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DENTOLOGIA: 


A POEM 


ON  THE  DISEASES  OF  THE  TEETH, 


AND 


THEIR  PROPER  REMEDIES. 


BY  SOLYMAN  BROWN,  A.  M. 


WITH  NOTES, 


PRACTICAL,  HISTORICAL,  ILLUSTRATIVE,  AND  EXPLANATORY, 


by 


ELEAZAR  PARMLY,  DENTIST. 


NEW. YORK. 


1840. 


% u 

_ A 


PREFACE. 


On  receiving  the  following  poem,  as  a token  of  friendship  from  the 
author,  believing  that  it  possessed  no  ordinary  merit  as  a production  of 
talent  and  intellectual  research,  in  addition  to  much  valuable  instruc- 
tion conveyed  in  a pleasing  form,  I submitted  the  manuscript  to 
rigid  criticism.  It  was  carefully  examined  by  two  gentlemen  of  this 
■oity,  who  are  as  distinguished  for  their  fine  taste  in  literature,  as  they 
are  celebrated  as  poets  and  authors.  These  gentlemen  urgently 
recommended  the  publication  of  the  poem,  on  the  grounds  of  its  use- 
ful tendency,  as  an  essay  on  a subject  of  general  interest,  and  as  a 
production  honourable  to  American  literature. 

It  occurred  to  me  that  I might  make  selections  from  the  various  au- 
thors whose  works  are  in  my  possession,  and  append  them  to  the  es- 
say, in  the  form  of  notes,  illustrating  and  confirming  the  general  doc- 
trine of  the  poem.  If  these  notes  shall  afford  either  rational  amuse- 
ment or  useful  instruction  to  any  of  my  friends  and  fellow  citizens, 
my  only  object  will  have  been  fully  attained. 

Some  years  ago  I had  the  honor  of  laying  before  the  public  my 
views  with  regard  to  the  profession  which  I had  embraced.  Having 
previously  enjoyed  the  advantage  of  a friendly  intercourse  with  the 
most  distinguished  dentists  in  Europe,  I had  gathered  from  them  such 
instructions  as  enabled  me  to  adopt  a decided  course  of  practice, 
and  my  subsequent  experience  has  but  confirmed  and  established  me 
in  the  opinions  which  I then  presented  to  the  world. 

I am  not  aware  that  the  attempt  has  ever  before  been  made,  to 
write  in  English  verse,  a work  inculcating  the  doctrines  of  dental 
science,  embracing  the  diseases  of  the  teeth,  together  with  the  means 
of  their  prevention  and  cure.  On  a subject  so  unpromising,  I think 
all  will  agree  with  me  in  saying,  that  the  author  has  succeeded  be- 
yond all  reasonable  expectation,  in  his  design  of  investing  the  sober 

390045 


IV 


PREFACE. 


form  of  scientific  truth,  in  the  eloquent  and  glowing  language  of  po- 
etic fancy ; and  I cannot  for  a moment  doubt  that  my  professional 
acquaintaces,  to  whom  I most  respectfully  dedicate  this  little  volume, 
will  be  enabled  to  gain  an  adequate  knowledge  of  the  general  prin- 
ciples and  real  importance  of  the  dental  art,  through  the  lucid  medium 
of  this  poem,  in  the  most  pleasing  manner. 

Within  the  last  fifty  years,  very  great  improvements  have  been 
made  in  the  various  departments  of  our  art,  but  that  which  results  in 
the  most  enduring  and  substantial  advantage  to  mankind,  and  which 
therefore  deserves  to  be  the  most  highly  prized,  is  the  very  perfect 
manner  in  which  the  natural  teeth  ate  now  preserved  in  a sound  and 
healthy  condition,  by  the  skill  of  the  well  educated  practitioner.  The 
success  of  a few  individuals  in  this  branch  of  practice,  has  induced 
many  to  assume  the  name  of  demist,  who  are  uiterly  unqualified  to 
perform  in  a proper  manner  the  most  unimportant  and  trifling  ope- 
ration upon  the  teeth.  Hence  it  is  that  we  hear  every  day  of 
the  painful  sufferings  and  lasting  injuries  which  result  from  the  mal- 
practice of  incompetent  pretenders  to  dental  knowledge.  Whole  sets 
of  teeth  aie  daily  sacrificed  at  the  shrine  of  stupidity;  and  the  evil 
will  never  be  arrested,  until  the  good  sense  of  ihose  who  have  oc- 
casion for  the  intervention  of  art,  shall  be  more  careful  in  selecting 
the  person  to  whom  they  intrust  organs  so  useful,  so  ornamental,  so 
indispensable  to  health  and  comfort,  as  the  teeth.  So  long  as  there 
is  no  statute  to  protect  the  citizen  on  this  subject,  his  common  sense, 
enlightened  by  experience,  must  be  his  law  and  his  protection. 

The  operation  of  supplying  artificial  teeth,  is  one  which  for  some 
years  I had  relinquished,  in  consequence  of  being  unable  to  attend 
to  it,  and  at  the  same  time,  to  do  justice  to  what  I consider  to  be  the 
more  important,  and,  therefore,  the  first  object  of  dental  surgery  ; but 
having  had  for  more  than  four  years  past,  the  valuable  assistance  of 
my  kinsman,  Mr.  Jahial  Parmly,  whose  mechanical  tact  and  ingenui- 
ty are  not  surpassed,  I have  associated  him  with  me,  for  the  purpose 
of  enabling  him  to  devote  his  time  exclusively  to  that  branch.  His 
success  during  the  last  twro  years  demonstrates  the  great  advantage 
to  be  derived  from  this  division  of  labor,  by  which  each  department 
of  the  profession  is  practised  by  distinct  individuals.  It  operates  like 
a similar  distribution  of  labor  in  the  other  arts  and  sciences,  ensuring 
a greater  degree  of  excellence  in  the  results. 


PREFACE. 


v 


The  improvements  that  have  been  made  during  the  last  few  years, 
in  the  manufacture  of  mineral  teeth,  have  induced  me  to  make  exten- 
sive provision  for  conducting  this  part  of  the  business,  in  the  hope 
that  still  farther  improvement  may  bring  this  interesting  branch  of 
our  art  to  such  a state  of  perfection,  as  to  render  them  a substitute 
in  most  cases,  for  human  and  animal  teeth,  which  are  subject  to 
speedy  decay.  Knowing  no  person  whose  mechanical  skill  and  sci- 
entific acquirements  so  well  qualify  him  for  such  an  undertaking,  I 
requested  my  friend,  Mr.  Brown,  to  join  me  in  perfecting  an  art  so 
desirable,  and  promising  so  many  advantages.  From  the  rapid  im- 
provement which  he  has  made  in  the  manufacture  and  mechanical 
adaptation  of  these  teeth,  as  well  as  from  my  long  acquaintance  with 
his  personal  character,  I am  happy  in  believing  that  he  will  add 
one  to  the  number  of  those  who  contribute  to  the  dignity  and  useful- 
ness of  the  profession  ; the  benefit,  comfort,  and  convenience  of  whose 
labors,  will  be  acknowledged  by  thousands.  If  those  who  are  inten- 
ding to  practise  as  dentists,  would  qualify  themselves  in  a similar 
way  by  going  through  with  a regular  course  of  practical  instruc- 
tion, with  an  experienced  dentist,  they  would  soon  elevate  a profes- 
sion to  its  merited  rank,  which  is  now  too  often  degraded  by  igno- 
rance and  presumption. 

ELEAZAR  PARMLY. 


No.  11  Park  Place , ^ 
New-  York.  > 
October  ISth,  1833.  ) 


INTRODUCTION. 


To  Eleazar  Parmly,  Esq. 

My  dear  sir, — I take  the  liberty  to  transmit  to  you, 
herewith,  the  result  of  a few  weeks’  solitary  musing.  It  is  an  essay, 
in  verse,  on  your  favorite  science  : — A short  didactic  poem,  intended 
to  embrace  some  of  the  more  general  and  popular  views  of  that  val- 
uable art,  in  the  exercise  of  which  you  have  reared  the  superstruc- 
ture of  fame  and  fortune  on  the  solid  basis  of  intrinsic  merit. 

If,  in  addition  to  reputation  and  emolument,  you  have  been  cheered 
in  your  arduous  labors,  by  the  smiles  of  the  beautiful  and  the  encomi- 
ums of  the  wise,  you  may  pass  it  to  the  credit  of  that  urbanity,  skill 
and  kindness,  with  which  your  surgical  practice  is  so  distinctly 
marked. 

I am  well  apprized  that  your  unparalleled  success  in  treating  dis- 
orders of  the  teeth,  is  not  the  result  of  accident.  The  enterprising 
spirit  that  led  you  to  seek  a knowledge  of  your  profession,  in  the  two 
most  enlightened  capitals  of  Europe,  and  the  perseverirg  industry, 
which  raised  you  to  high  rank  in  the  city  of  London,  before  estab- 
lishing yourself  in  your  native  country,  are  the  proximate  causes  of 
your  distinguished  prosperity. 

It  is  now  more  than  ten  years  since  our  personal  acquaintance 
began,  and  I have  been  long  anxious  to  devise  some  method  of  tes- 
tifying the  warmth  and  sincerity  with  which  I reciprocate  your  senti- 
ments of  friendship.  The  design  of  reducing  some  of  the  general 
doctrines  of  dental  science  to  a poetic  form,  presented  itself  favora- 
bly to  my  mind,  and  seemed  more  especially  proper,  after  the  act 
of  favor  by  which  you  invited  me  to  return  to  your  family,  after  a tem- 
porary absence,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  your  instruction,  and 
that  of  your  accomplished  associate,  in  the  practical  operations  of 
your  profession. 


INTRODUCTION. 


vii 

I have  reduced  this  plan  to  practice  according  to  the  very  mode- 
rate measure  of  my  poetical  abilities  ; and,  in  whatever  else  it  may 
be  found  wanting,  I trust  it  will  bear  the  uncounterfeited  stamp  of 
sincerity  and  gratitude. 

The  generous  liberality  which  has  marked  your  deportment  to- 
wards every  reputable  member  of  your  profession,  and  more  espe- 
cially, the  elevated  charity  which  has  led  you  to  qualify  several  indi- 
viduals for  extensive  usefulness  in  the  practice  of  dental  surgery, 
will  be  remembered  with  gratitude,  long  after  your  personal  exertions 
in  the  cause  of  human  happiness  shall  have  ceased  on  earth  forever. 

The  experience  of  past  ages  has  accumulated  upon  the  existing 
generation,  in  the  mighty  results  which  we  behold  in  the  condition  of 
the  arts  and  sciences  at  the  present  day.  To  augment  this  inestima- 
ble treasure  of  useful  knowledge,  as  it  passes  into  other  hands, 
must  impart  exalted  transports  to  the  good  man’s  mind. 

The  anguish,  deformity,  and  tears,  which  result  from  diseases  of 
the  teeth,  are  among  man’s  real  evils,  and  form  a considerable  item 
in  the  catalogue  of  human  miseries.  He,  therefore,  who  by  his 
public  instruction,  or  private  professional  practice,  mitigates  or  re- 
moves these  evils,  is  a public  benefactor.  That  such  has  been  your 
happiness,  is  felt  by  a large  circle  of  acquaintances,  not  only  in  these 
states,  but  from  many  and  remote  portions  of  the  civilized  world  : 
and  that  you  may  long  live  in  the  peaceful  bosom  of  your  family, 
to  indulge  in  the  consciousness  of  having  contributed  to  the  positive 
enjoyment  of  so  many  sentient  beings ; and  to  taste  with  a refined 
and  protracted  relish,  the  sweets  of  friendship,  fame,  and  fortune,  is 
the  devout  wish  of  your  friend  : — 


172  Fourth-Street , 
New-  York. 
April  20thy  1833. 


SOLYMAN  BROWN. 


CANTO  FIRST, 


ARGUMENT, 


Invocation  to  living  beauty  as  seen  in  the  human  countenance.— • 
Importance  of  personal  charms  to  the  female  sex. — Man  a natural 
physiognomist. — Mental  and  moral  qualities  mirrored  in  the  fea- 
tures.— Original  beauty  of  the  human  race. — Beauty  of  angelic 
natures  when  purified  from  the  stains  of  mortality. — Subject  of 
dentistry  proposed. — Universal  law  of  nature  in  regard  to  human 
teeth.— -Importance  of  good  dental  practitioners. 


CANTO  FIRST. 


No  goddess  born  in  blue-eyed  Juno’s  reign, 

Or  fair-haired  sister  of  Apollo’s  train — 

No  coy  and  quivered  Driad  of  the  woods, 

Or  laughing  Naiad  of  the  dashing  floods — 

Do  I invoke  ; — ye  fabled  forms — retire  ! 

Let  breathing  loveliness  my  notes  inspire  : — 

To  thee,  my  cherished  friend  ! the  strains  belong, 
And  living  beauty  animates  my  song. 

This  magic  spell  that  mirrors  every  grace 
Of  woman’s  heart,  in  lovely  woman’s  face  ; 

This  speaking  index  of  the  polished  mind, 

In  virtue  pure,  by  virgin  truth  refined  ; — 

Is  love’s  own  banner,  gracefully  unfurled, 

To  fix  affection,  and  enchant  the  world. 

Without  its  aid,  how  hard  were  woman’s  lot  ! 

To  sigh  neglected,  and  to  die  forgot  ; 

Though  nature’s  genial  fires  unceasing  burn, 

To  live  unloved,  and  love  without  return  ! 

For  well  we  know  that  all  of  human  kind, 

Read  in  the  face  the  features  of  the  mind  ; 

The  soul’s  bright  forms  forever  fresh  and  fair, 
Wit,  worth,  and  modesty,  are  pictured  there. 

Say  not — perverted  taste  alone  descries 

An  intellectual  light  in  radiant  eyes  ; 

2 


10 


DENTOLOGIA. 


Nor  think  Lavater’s  favorite  science  vain, 

That  guides  the  choice  of  every  rural  swain, 

In  search  of  worthy  love: — for  well  he  knows, 
That  when  the  graceful  meadow-lily  blows, 

’Tis  genial  spring  ; and  when  the  mantling  vine, 
Hound  the  gray  oak  its  wreaths  is  seen  to  twine, 
Laden  with  purple  fruit — that  summer’s  showers 
Have  nursed  to  life  the  verdure  and  the  flowers. 
So,  in  the  features  of  Myrtilla’s  face, 

The  rustic  Corydon  has  learned  to  trace 
Each  soft  affection  of  her  glowing  mind  ; 

With  what  delighted  and  to  whom  inclined. 

You  say,  perchance,  “ Is  woman  then  approved 
For  outward  charms,  and  but  for  these  beloved  ? 
Shall  form  and  feature  for  all  faults  atone, 

And  mere  external  beauty  reign  alone  ? 

By  reasoning  man  is  mental  worth  despised, 

And  but  for  pageantry  is  woman  prized  ?” 

’Tis  weli  inquired  ; but  maik  the  just  reply: — 
As  glittering  stars  adorn  the  cloudless  sky, 

And  smiling  rainbows,  w’hen  the  stoim  is  done, 
Announce  the  bursting  splendors  of  the  sun  ; 

So  beams  of  lambent  light  that  sportive  play 
In  woman’s  face,  proclaim  interior  day  ; 

And  modest  sweetness,  with  that  light  combined, 
Bespeaks  her  nature  gentle  and  refined. 

Thus,  too,  the  cherub  graces  that  adorn 
The  smiling  babe  in  childhood's  sunny  morn, 
Heveal  the  pureness  of  that  virtue  given, 

The  charm  of earth  and  miniature  of  heaven. 

Nor  less  does  manhood’s  firmer  brow  disclose 
The  master  passion  whence  his  action  flows. 


JDENTOLOGrlA. 


11 


Ifgiory,  lucre,  love,  his  heart  inspire, 

See  in  his  lineaments  the  raging  fire  ; 

If  war  impel,  behold  him  charge  the  foe, 

His  eyes’  red  lightning  mingling  with  the  blow  ; 

In  search  of  gold,  see  meanness  in  his  air, 

And  Gripus’  sordid  wrinkles  furrowed  there  : — 

Or,  fired  with  love,  survey  his  altered  mien  ; 

Fair  vernal  blossoms  decorate  the  scene, 

From  every  flower  the  honeyed  sweet  he  sips, 

And  burning  eloquence  is  on  his  lips. 

In  times  of  old,  those  happier  golden  years, 

Ere  man  had  learned  to  drink  the  orphan’s  tears 
And  widow’s  sighs,  and  count  them  richest  wine, 
What  beauty  decked  the  “ human  face  divine  !” 
Then  all  was  loveliness  : — the  ruling  soul 
Held  o’er  the  world,  unlimited  control  ; 

The  forest  knew  no  monster  ; and  the  grove 
No  voice  but  that  of  melody  and  love  ; — 

While  man  acknowledged  virtue  as  his  guide, 

The  lamb  and  lion  slumbered  at  his  side  ; 

’Twas  then,  nor  thorn  nor  thistle  cursed  the  soil, 
But  plenty  crowned  the  gatherer’s  pleasing  toil, 
Nor  plague  nor  tempest  in  such  skies  appear, 

But  health  and  sunshine  circle  round  the  year. 

And  who  can  tell,  when  virtue  soars  away 
To  ranye  the  fields  of  unexpiring  day, 

Where  Love  unveils  her  charms  to  every  eye, 

And  Truth  unrobes  his  manly  majesty  ; 

Say,  who  can  tell,  how  beautiful  and  fair, 

Those  angel-forms — those  heavenly  natures  are  ? 

Amid  the  bowers  of  ever  pure  delight, 

Whence  heaven’s  unclouded  sun  excludes  the  night. 


12 


DENTOLOGIA. 


In  fragrant  groves  arrayed  in  emerald  green. 
Where  varying  landscapes  animate  the  scene, 
Thou,  sainted  Mother  ! find’st  that  blest  repose, 
Which  sweet  celestial  innocence  bestows, — 

To  friendship  there,  thy  glowing  heart  is  given  ; 
Thy  hands,  to  all  the  charities  of  heaven  ; 

Thy  voice,  to  melody  ; thine  eye,  to  see 
The  radiant  bow  that  spans  eternity  ! 


If  nature  t hus,  instructive,  deigns  to  trace 
The  soul  in  every  feature  of  the  face  ; 

If  lovely  virtue  there  displays  her  charm , 

And  guilty  passions  ring  the  loud  alarm  ; 

Arouse,  thou  slumbering  fair  ! and  learn  to  see 
That,  heaven  commits  thy  destiny  to  thee. 

Is  virtuous  love  thy  aim  ? Deserve  the  prize  : 

Or  friendship  ? Know  that  here  the  secret  lies  : — 
To  be — and  to  appear  what  men  approve  : — 

Their  friendship  thus  is  won — -and  thus  their  love. 
Be  mine  the  pride  in  measured  verse  to  raise 
A plain  but  lasting  monument  of  praise, 

To  that  distinguished  science,  known  of  yore, 
Designed  departed  beauty  to  restore — 

The  Dental  Art,  by  Greece  and  Rome  admired, 
When  woman  to  imperial  thrones  aspired  ; — 
Those  mighty  states  were  both  to  ruin  hurled, 

But  lo  ! their  art  survives  to  bless  the  world.  (1) 

Full  well  I know  ’tis  difficult  to  chime 

The  laws  of  science  with  the  rules  of  rhyme  ; 

Tlain  vulgar  prose,  my  subject 'seems  to  claim, 

Did  not  ambition  prompt  the  higher  aim, 

The  nobler  pride,  bv  more  laborious  care, 

To  speak  in  numbers  that  shall  please  the  fain 


DENTOLOGIA. 


13 


To  woman,  love’s  first  melodies  were  sung, 

In  nature’s  prime,  when  earth  and  time  were  young, 
And  every  bard,  in  each  succeeding  year, 

Has  framed  his  lays  for  woman’s  listening  ear  : — - 
Nor  let  the  grovelling  soul  that  cleaves  to  earth 
Dare  to  pretend  to  comprehend  her  worth  ; 

When  pure — she’s  purer  than  the  virgin  snow, 

On  Andes’  top,  when  summer  smiles  below  ; 

And  more  delight  o’er  life  her  sweetness  breathes, 
Than  all  besides  that  heaven  to  man  bequeathes. 

Since  beauty  thus  bestows  the  kind  caress, 

And  oft  audacity  secures  success, 

Be  mine  the  task  to  join  the  tuneful  throng, 

And  blend  instruction  with  the  charms  of  song. 

When  man  was  fashioned  by  the  Power  Supreme,- 
Strange  and  mysterious  as  the  fact  may  seem, 

And  cause  of  wonder  ; to  his  frame  was  given 
Peculiar  structure  by  the  hand  of  heaven  : — 
Imperious  laws  distinctively  his  own, 

To  other  animated  forms  unknown. 

Among  these  laws  which  science  learns  to  trace, 
Through  every  varying  tribe  of  human  race  ; 

From  arctic  regions,  clad  in  endless  snows, 

To  where  the  tropical  sirocco  blows, 

As  well  where  elegant  refinement  smiles,- 
As  far  remote,  among  the  ocean  isles, 

One  common  destiny  awaits  our  kind  ; — - 
’Tis  this,  that  long  before  the  infant  mind 
Attains  maturity — and  ere  the  sun 
Has  through  the  first  septennial  circle  run, 

The  teeth,  deciduous,  totter  and  decay, 

And  prompt  successors  hurry  them  away.  (2} 


14 


BENTOLOGIA. 


This  every  mother  knows,  though  not  aware* 

How  precious  then  the  kind  maternal  care 
That  holds  incessant  watch,  lest  nature’s  course 
Should  meet  obstruction  from  some  counter  force** 
For  oft  the  predecessors,  lingering,  claim 
Undue  connexion  with  the  vital  frame, 

And,  like  a monarch,  vindicate  alone, 

The  questioned  title  to  their  ivory  throne. 

So  mothers,  proud  of  each  surviving  charm, 
Regard  their  daughters’  beauty  with  alarm, 

Lest  these  to  admiration  should  aspire, 

Before  themselves  are  ready  to  retire. 


But  nature’s  course  is  fixed,  and  man  must  yield, 
For  ’tis  but  madness  to  contest  the  field 
With  conquering  fate  : and  holy  heaven  withdraws 
Its  smile  from  all  who  violate  its  laws. 


Be  watchful,  ye — whose  fond  maternal  arm, 

Would  shield  defenceless  infancy  from  harm,  (3) 
Mark  well  the  hour  when  nature’s  rights  demand, 
The  skilful  practice  of  the  dentist’s  hand. 

But  use  discretion:-  oft  imposture  wears 
The  same  external  guise  that  meiit  bears  ; 

And  bold  pretenders  show  consummate  wit, 

By  duping  others  to  abandon  it. 


Beware  of  those  whom  science  never  taught 
The  hard  but  useful  drudgery  of  thought, 

For  while  in  indolence  their  years  have  run, 
They  ask  the  wealth  that  industry  has  won  : — 
Can  charity  for  such  desire  success? 

No,  let  them  eat  the  bread  of  idleness. 


DENTOLOGIA. 


15 


On  just  desert  let  all  success  attend, 

And  patient  merit  never  want  a friend.  (4) 

To  thee,  companion  of  my  happiest  days, 

The  general  voice  awards  superior  praise ; 
’Twas  nobly  won,  by  sacrifice  of  ease, 

’Mid  raging  tempests  and  through  stormy  seas. 


END  OF  CANTO  FIRST. 


CANTO  S ECO  N D . 


ARGUMENT. 


The  first  dentition,  or  the  growth  and  progress  of  the  milk  teeth. — 
Operation  of  lancing  the  gums  ; fatal  consequences  of  neglect,  or 
of  inefficient  remedies, — The  second  dentition,  or  the  formation 
and  arrangement  of  the  permanent  teeth — Extraction  in  case  of 
interference,  or  mal-arrangement. — Distortion  and  deformity  re- 
sulting from  negligence. — Perfection  of  the  material  of  which  the 
teeth  are  composed. 


CANTO  SECOND. 


The  first  dentition  asks  our  earliest  care, 

For  oft,  obstructed  nature,  laboring  there, 
Demands  assistance  of  experienced  art, 

And  seeks  from  science  her  appointed  part. (5) 
Perhaps  ere  yet  the  infant  tongue  can  tell 
The  seat  of  anguish  that  it  knows  too  well, 

Some  struggling  tooth,  just  bursting  into  day, 
Obtuse  and  vigorous,  urges  on  its  way, 

While  inflammation,  pain,  and  bitter  cries, 

And  flooding  tears,  in  sad  succession  rise. (6) 

The  lancet,  then,  alone  can  give  relief, 

And  mitigate  the  helpless  sufferer’s  grief ; 

But  no  unpractised  hand  should  guide  the  steel 
Whose  polished  point  must  carry  wo  or  weal: — 
With  nicest  skill  the  dentist’s  hand  can  touch, 

And  neither  wound  too  little  nor  too  much.  (7) 

Be  prompt  to  act : — ’tis  dangerous  to  delay, 

Since  life  awaits  the  issue  of  a day  : — 

Reject  the  gentler  means  : — employ  the  best : — 
Let  unobstructed  nature  do  the  rest.  (8) 

This  rule  neglected,  many  a smiling  form, 

With  beauty  bright,  and  life  blood  glowing  warm, 
3 


18 


DENTOLOGIA. 


Its  parents’  pride,  a floweret  in  its  bloom, 

Descends  lamented  to  an  early  tomb.  (9) 

Nor  less  the  danger  when  the  first  array — 

The  infant  teeth — alternately  decay, 

Or  yield  succession  to  a hardier  race 
With  marked  reluctance  ; for,  in  either  case, 
Neglect  will  bring  repentance  in  its  train ; 

In  one,  deformity  ; — the  other,  pain  (10) 

Or  fell  disease  ; — but  timely  care  may  still 
Avoid  the  danger,  or  repair  the  ill.  (1 1) 

]f  pain  ensue,  and  neighboring  parts  inflame, 
Extraction  is  the  cure  ; and  ’tis  the  same 
If  nature’s  law,  obstructed  in  its  course, 

Should  meet  resistance  from  opposing  force  : (12) 
For  this  resisting  force  howe’er  remote, 

Meets  in  the  dental  art  its  antidote  ; 

Pain  flies  its  presence  ; anguish  wipes  her  tear; 

To  hope’s  fond  vision  rainbow-hues  appear ; 

Pale,  trembling  beauty  hushes  her  alarms, 

And  beaux,  admiring,  own  her  added  charms. 

Now  mark  the  contrast  in  some  hideous  face, 
Robbed  by  neglect,  of  symmetry  and  grace  : — 
Echold  those  organs,  formed  on  nature’s  plan, 

To  serve  important  purposes  to  man  ; 

To  form  the  sounds  in  which  his  thoughts  are  drest, 
His  wishes  uttered,  and  his  love  confest ; 

To  fit  his  solid  food  of  every  name, 

For  healthy  action  on  the  general  frame  ; (13) 
Behold  these  organs,  wrested  by  abuse, 

From  wisest  purpose,  and  from  noblest  use, 
Deranged,  displaced,  distorted,  set  awry. 
Disgusting  objects  of  deformity  1(14) 


DENTOLOGIA. 


19 


Such  mal-formations  hardier  man  perplex, 

But,  with  more  grief,  afflict  the  softer  sex  : — 

For  when  with  grace,  deformity  is  joined, 

As  one  base  passion  desolates  the  mind, 

So  one  contrasted  fault  alone  disarms 

All  conquering  beauty  of  a thousand  charms. 

Let  azure  eyes  with  coral  lips  unite, 

And  health’s  vermilion  blend  with  snowy  white  ; 
Let  auburn  tresses  float  upon  the  gale, 

And  flowery  garlands  all  their  sweets  exhale ; 

If  once  the  lips  in  parting,  should  display 
The  teeth  discolored  or  in  disarray, 

The  spell  dissolves,  and  beauty  in  despair 
Beholds  her  fond  pretensions  melt  in  air. 

But  learn  the  remedy : — the  dentist’s  skill 
Subjects  disordered  nature  to  his  will ; — 

As  great  commanders  hear  without  alarms, 

The  shouts  of  battle  and  the  shock  of  arms, 

And,  when  their  troops,  in  broken  ranks,  incline 
To  wild  confusion,  bring  them  into  line  ; 

So  he — the  master  of  the  dental  art, 

Can  order,  grace,  and  symmetry  impart, 

Where  anarchy  had  else  sustained  alone 
The  undisputed  title  to  his  throne. 

Such  benefits  this  useful  science  lends 
To  earliest  youth  ; — and  yet  its  aid  extends 
To  following  years,  assuaging  mortal  pain, 

And  oft  restoring  beauty’s  flowery  reign. 

The  human  frame,  offspring  of  heaven’s  high  will, 
Displays  throughout  inimitable  skill  ; 


so 


DENTOLOGIA, 


No  part  defective  : none  that  perfect  love 
Could  prompt  unbounded  wisdom  to  improve. 

The  eye,  the  ear,  how  wondrously  designed 
To  serve  as  useful  allies  to  the  mind. 

The  heaving  lungs,  that  drink  th’  aerial  flood, 

Imparting  vigor  to  the  vital  blood  ; — 

The  heart,  that  like  a virtuous  monarch,  reigns, 

And  spreads  delight  through  all  its  wide  domains  : (15) 
How  wondrous  these  ! — yet  see  the  hand  divine 
By  equal  skill  displayed  in  every  line, 

In  every  feature  of  the  perfect  whole, 

That  acts  in  concert  with  the  moving  soul. 

To  this  great  law,  that  governs  every  part, 

And  rules  “ as  perfect  in  a hair  as  heart,” 

The  teeth  conform  ; and  hence  it  stands  confest, 

Their  substance,  form,  and  structure,  are  the  best 
That  wisdom  could  devise  for  such  a use, 

And  hence,  defective,  only  from  abuse.  (16) 

Not  polished  pearl  from  Ceylon’s  coral  caves, 

Or  California’s  or  Cumana’s  waves  ; 

From  Indian  hills,  Golconda’s  lucid  gem 
That  shines  a star  in  Brama’s  diadem  ; 

Nor  gold  of  Ophir,  wrought  by  Aaron’s  skill, 

To  form  the  idol  calf,  and  worshipped  still, 

Could  act  the  part  in  nature’s  general  plan, 

Assigned  these  organs  in  the  frame  of  man.  (17) 


END  OF  CANTO  SECOND. 


C A NTO  THI 11  D. 


ARGUMENT. 


Apostrophe  to  Luxury  ; — its  effects  on  general  health. — Intempe- 
rance in  eating  and  drinking. — Use  of  animal  food. — Effects  of 
luxury  and  intemperance  on  the  teeth. — Cleanliness;  neglect  of  it 
punished  by  gangrene  of  the  teeth,  and  other  diseases. — Fate 
ofUrilla  occasioned  by  her  carelessness. — Caries,  or  decay  of 
teeth. — The  tooth-ache. 


CANTO  THIRD* 


Oh  Luxury  ! the  eldest  born  of  wealth, 

Thou  foe  to  virtue,  and  thou  bane  of  health  ; 
Insidious  nursling  in  the  lap  of  case, 

Whose  breath  is  pestilence,  whosesmile  disease  ; 
May  suffering  man  yet  see  thee  as  thou  art, 

A greedy  vampyre,  feasting  on  his  heart!  (18) 

Of  all  the  ills  that  ante-date  the  doom 
Of  erring  mortals,  and  erect  the  tomb 
So  near  the  cradle,  shortening  to  a span 
The  fleeting  life  of  transitory  man. 

The  worst  is  luxury  : — Infrequent  flies 

The  lightning’s  fatal  bolt  ; the  lowering  skies 

Are  seldom  darkened  by  the  whirlwind’s  wrath. 

Or  loud  tornado’s  devastating  path. 

Beneath  the  ocean  wave  though  some  expire, 

And  others  by  the  fierce  volcano’s  fire  ; 

Though  savage  war  can  boast  his  thousands  slain, 
On  tented  field,  or  bosom  of  the  main  ; 

Yet  few  the  victims  of  these  fates  malign, 
Compared,  intemperate  luxury  ! with  thine.  (19) 

Wherever  wealth  and  false  refinement  reign, 

The  pampered  appetites  compose  their  train  ; 


24 


DENTOLOGIA, 


Remotest  climes  supply  the  varied  feast, 

But  wisdom  never  comes  a welcome  guest ; 

The  gormand,  folly,  bids  the  poison  pass, 

And  drains  destruction  from  the  circling  glass.  (20) 

The  harmless  flock,  to  cruel  slaughter  led, 

Crowns  high  the  board  ; for  this  the  herd  has  bled,  (21) 
For  this,  the  gay  musicians  of  the  grove, 

Suspend  forever  all  their  songs  of  love  ! (22) 

Earth,  air,  and  ocean,  each  its  part  supplies 
Of  sentient  life,  to  swell  the  sacrifice  ; 

As  though  some  fiend  had  sketched  the  darkest  plan 
Of  bloody  banquet  for  the  monster — man  ! (23) 

Though  teeming  earth  bestows  on  honest  toil, 

In  every  climate  and  in  every  soil, 

Their  proper  fruits,  by  nature’s  law  designed, 

The  safe  and  luscious  diet  of  mankind,  (24) 

Yet,  see  the  race  from  flowery  Eden  stray, 

To  roam  the  mightiest  of  the  beasts  of  prey  ! 

See  sensual  man  still  smiling  with  delight, 

While  bleeding  life  is  quivering  in  Lis  sight ! 

But  nature,  sure  to  vindicate  her  cause, 

Avenges  each  transgression  of  her  laws  ; 

Beware,  rash  man  ! — for  every  nice  offence 
Shall  meet,  in  time,  a dreadful  recompence  ; 

Nor  flight  can  save — nor  necromantic  art, 

Nor  dext’rous  stratagems  elude  the  smart: — 

For,lo,  in  fearful  shapes,  a haggard  band 
Of  fell  diseases,  wait  at  her  command. 


’Tis  thus  derangement,  pain,  and  swift  decay, 
Obtain  in  man  their  desolating  sway, 


DENTOLOGIA. 


25 


Corrupt  his  blood,  infect  his  vital  breath, 

And  urge  him  headlong  to  the  shades  of  death. 

No  more  his  cheeks  with  flushing  crimson  glow ; 

No  more  he  feels  the  sanguine  current  flow  ; 

But  quenched  and  dim  his  sightless  eyeballs  roll, 

Nor  meet  one  star  that  gilds  the  glowing  pole  ! (25) 

Amid  this  general  wreck  of  health  and  ease, 

Where  every  folly  generates  disease, 

The  teeth,  in  spite  of  nature’s  guardian  care, 

In  all  disorders  of  the  system  share, 

Besides  those  ills  peculiarly  their  own, 

To  other  portions  of  the  frame  unknown. 

If  sloth  or  negligence  the  task  forbear 
Of  making  cleanliness  a daily  care  ; 

If  fresh  ablution,  with  the  morning  sun, 

Be  quite  forborne  or  negligently  done  ; 

In  dark  disguise  insidious  tartar  comes 
Incrusts  the  teeth  and  irritates  the  gums, 

Till  vile  deformity  usurps  the  seat 

Where  smiles  should  play  and  winning  graces  meet, 

And  foul  disease  pollutes  the  fair  domain, 

Where  health  and  purity  should  ever  reign.(26) 

Behold  Urilla,  nature’s  favored  child  ; — 

Bright  on  her  birth  indulgent  fortune  smiled  ; — 

Her  honored  grandsire,  when  the  field  was  won, 

By  warring  freeman,  led  by  Washington, 

Nobly  sustained,  on  many  a glorious  day, 

The  fiercest  fervors  of  the  battle-fray  ; 

Survived  the  strife,  and  saw  at  length  unfurled 

Our  union-banner  floating  round  the  world  ; 

4 


26 


DENTOLOGIA. 


Then  found  a grave,  as  every  patriot  can; 
Inscribed  “ Defender  of  the  rights  of  man.” 

Her  sire,  whose  freighted  ships  from  every  shore 
Returned  with  wealth  in  unexhausted  store, 

Was  doubly  rich  : — his  gold  was  less  refined 
Than  the  bright  treasures  of  his  noble  mind. 

And  she  herself  is  fair  in  form  and  face  ; — 

Her  glance  is  modesty,  her  motion  grace, 

Her  smile,  a moonbeam  on  the  garden  bower. 

Her  blush,  a rainbow  on  the  summer  shower, 

And  she  is  gentler  than  the  fearful  fawn 
That  drinks  the  glittering  dew-drops  of  the  lawn^ 

When  first  I saw  her  eyes’  celestial  blue,- 
Her  cheeks’  vermilion,  and  the  carmine  hue,- 
That  melted  on  her  lips: — her  auburn  hair 
That  floated  playful  on  the  yielding  air  ; 

And  then  that  neck  within  those  graceful  curls,. 
Molten  from  Cleopatra’s  liquid  pearls, 

I whispered  to  my  heart: — we  ’ll  fondly  seek- 
The  means,  the  hour,  to  hear  the  angel  speak  ; 

For  sure  such  language  from  those  lips  must  flow, 
As  none  but  pure  and  seraph  natures  know. 

’Twas  said — ’twas  done — the  fit  occasion  came, 
As  if  to  quench  betimes  the  kindling  flame 
Of  love  and  admiration  : — for  she  spoke, 

And  lo,  the  heavenly  spell  forever  broke  ; 

The  fancied  angel  vanished  into  air, 

And  left  unfortunate  Urilla  there: 

For  when  her  parted  lips  disclosed  to  view. 

Those  ruined  arches,  veiled  in  ebon  hue, 


DENTOLOGIA. 


27 


Where  love  had  thought  to  feast  the  ravished  sight 
On  orient  gems  reflecting  snowy  light, 

Hope,  disappointed,  silently  retired, 

Disgust  triumphant  came,  and  love  expired  ! 

And  yet,  Urilla’s  single  fault  was  small: 

If  b)  so  harsh  a name  ’tis  just  to  call 
Her  slight  neglect : — but ’tis  with  beauty’s  chain, 
As  ’ tis  with  nature’s  : — sunder  it  in  twain 
At  any  link,  and  you  dissolve  the  whole, 

As  death  disparts  the  body  from  the  soul.  (27) 

Let  every  fair  one  shun  Urilla’s  fate, 

And  wake  too  action,  ere  it  be  to  late  ; — 

Let  each  succpssive  day  unfailing  bring 

The  brush,  the  dentifrice,  and,  from  the  spring,  (28) 

The  cleansing  flood  : — the  labor  will  be  small, 

And  blooming  health  will  soon  reward  it  all.  (29) 
Or,  if  her  past  neglect  preclude  relief, 

By  gentle  means  like  these  ; assuage  her  grief ; 
The  dental  art  can  remedy  the  ill, 

Restore  her  hopes,  and  make  her  lovely  still.  (30) 

Yet,  other  evils  may  her  care  engage, 

The  offspring  of  an  epicurean  age.  (31) 

Destructive  caries  comes  with  secret  stealth 
T’  avenge  the  violated  laws  of  health : 

Dilapidates  the  teeth  by  slow  decay, 

And  bears  them  all  successively  away.  (32) 

So,  silent  Time,  with  unresisted  power, 

Labors  at  midnight  in  the  lonely  tower  ; 

Corrodes  the  granite  in  the  ivied  wall, 

And  smiles  to  hear  the  crumbling  atoms  fall ; — - 
Till  all  the  mighty  structure  disappears, 

A dream  forgot,  a tale  of  other  years.  (33) 


28 


DENTOLOGrIA. 


When  caries,  thus,  the  solid  tooth  destroys* 

That  sullen  enemy  to  mortal  joys, 

The  tooth-ache,  supervenes : — detested  name, 

Most  justly  damned  to  everlasting  fame  ! (34) 

They  say  who  most  have  felt,  and  best  should  know 
The  power  of  this  most  execrable  wo, 

That  when  Pandora’s  box  of  mortal  pains, 

Was  first  unlocked  among  the  wondering  swains, 

To  every  vice  its  kindred  grief  was  sent, 

And  every  crime  received  its  punishment, 

Except  intemperance  : — no  single  ill 
Could  heaven’s  irrevocable  law  fulfil, 

The  fixed  resolve,  th’  omnipotent  decree, 

That  each  offence  should  meet  its  penalty  ; 

Then  all  these  mortal  woes  in  one  were  joined, 

And  tooth-ache  came,  the  terror  of  mankind  ! (35) 

Thou  haggard  fiend  ! of  hellish  imps  the  worst, 

To  mercy  deaf,  by  sorrowing  man  accurst ; (36) 
Though  cheerless  days  made  desolate  by  thee, 

And  long,  long  nights  of  sleepless  agony, 

Have  marked  thy  fearful  reign  in  days  of  yore, 

Thy  power  is  crushed, — thy  scorpion-sting  no  more 
Affrights  the  helpless,  for  the  dental  art 
Commands  thy  gloomy  terrors  to  depart, 

Then  wipes  from  beauty’s  cheek  the  tears  that  burn* 
And  bids  her  roses  and  her  smiles  return. 


END  OF  CANTO  THIRD. 


CANTO  FOURTH. 


ARGUMENT. 


Remedies  for  the  various  disorders  of  the  teeth. — Filing  away  cari- 
ous portions. — Stopping  carious  cavities  with  gold  foil. — Loss  of  the 
teeth  occasioning  the  necessity  of  substituting  others  — Of  artificial 
teeth — Eulogium  on  those  who  labor  for  the  benefit  of  mankind. 


CANTO  FOURTH. 


Auspicious  art ! before  whose  magic  spell, 

Disease  and  pain  shrink  shuddering  back  to  hell. 
Whose  touch,  like  that  mysterious  gem  of  old, 

That  changed  all  baser  metals  into  gold, 

Restores  the  faded  floweret  to  its  bloom, 

And  saves  the  victim  from  the  threatening  tomb  : — 
Direct  my  song  and  (each  me  to  rehearse 
In  the  smooth  numbers  of  enchanting  verse, 

Those  varied  stratagems  employed  by  thee, 

To  soothe  the  pangs  of  frail  humanity. 

In  nature’s  vast  domain,  with  curious  eye, 

Search  through  the  earth,  the  ocean,  and  the  sky  ; 
Ask  of  the  beast  that  crops  the  flowery  plain, 

And  fish  that  threads  the  billows  of  the  main; 

Ask  of  the  bird  that  journeys  on  the  wind, 

And  reasoning  man  for  nobler  flights  designed  ; — 
If  any  link  in  wide  creation’s  chain 
Of  golden  harmony,  produces  pain  ; 

Or,  in  the  general  frame,  is  found  a flaw. 

But  from  resistance  to  wise  nature’s  law  I 


And  this  resistance  comes  from  man  alone, 

Who  vainly  thinks  to  shake  th’  Eternal’s  throne  ; 


32 


DENTOLOGIA. 


Who  spurns  the  good  to  humble  virtue  given, 
And  madly  builds  himself  another  heaven. 

Folly  with  wisdom  holds  unequal  strife, 

In  bold  infraction  of  the  laws  of  life. 

If  then  the  teeth,  designed  for  various  use, 
Decay  and  ache,  ’tis  only  from  abuse  ; 

And  lo,  triumphant  art  can  well  ensure, 

At  least  a remedy,  if  not  a cure. 

Whene’er  along  the  ivory  disks,  are  seen, 

The  filthy  footsteps  of  the  dark  gangrene  ; 

When  caries  comes,  with  stealthy  pace  to  throw 
Corrosive  ink  spots  on  those  banks  of  snow — 
Brook  no  delay,  ye  trembling,  suffering  fair, 

But  fly  for  refuge  to  the  dentist’s  care. 

His  practiced  hand,  obedient  to  his  will, 
Employs  the  slender  file  with  nicest  skill ; 

Just  sweeps  the  germin  of  disease  away, 

And  stops  the  fearful  progress  of  decay.  (37) 

Fair  science,  thus,  with  timely  care  combined, 
Becomes  the  faithful  friend  of  human  kind  ; 
Reverses,  oft  man’s  miserable  fate, 

And  serves  his  cureless  ills  to  mitigate : 

Extracts  the  poison  from  his  tainted  breath, 

And  plucks  the  feather  from  the  shaft  of  death. 

From  long  neglect  which  nothing  can  atone, 
Should  caries  excavate  the  solid  bone, 

Destroy  the  bright  enamel  in  its  way, 

And  lay  the  nerve  quite  naked  to  the  day  ; 

Still  dental  science,  subject  of  my  song, 

Invents  expedients  to  redress  the  wrong. 


DENTOLOGIA. 


33 


*Tis  then  the  world’s  bright  god,  so  highly  prized, 
That  earth  and  heaven  are  daily  sacrificed 
Upon  its  altar,  wrested  from  abuse, 

Performs  in  nature  one  substantial  use  : — (38) 
Unlike  the  sacrilegious  part  it  bore 
At  thundering  Sinai’s  trembling  base  of  yore, 
When  Israel’s  blooming  daughters  gave  their  gold, 
That  Aaron,  frail  and  impious  priest,  might  mould 
The  idol  calf — unlike  its  task  assigned, 

To  bribe,  and  buy,  and  subjugate  mankind; 

1 o purchase  love  and  friendship  ; and  descend 
A heritage  where  noble  virtues  end  ; 

To  be,  with  those  who  basely  covet  it, 

The  villain’s  honor,  and  the  dunce’s  wit ; 

The  shining  claim  that  elevates  the  clown 
To  all  the  stupid  mummery  of  the  gown; 

The  lure  by  which  the  genius  oft  is  led 
To  give  the  termagant  his  bridal  bed  ; 

The  current  bribe  to  hireling  virtue  given  ; 

The  bartered  substitute  for  truth  and  heaven! 

This  idol  god,  that  thus  usurps  the  skies, 

The  artist  now  to  noblest  use  applies ; 

Transmutes  its  form  with  Caesar’s  head  impressed, 
Or  in  iNapolean’s  robes  imperial  dressed, 

To  soft  and  yielding  lamina ; — with  skill 
The  practiced  dental  surgeon  learns  to  fill 
Each  morbid  cavity,  by  caries  made, 

W ith  pliant  gold  : — when  thus  the  parts  decayed 
Are  well  supplied,  corrosion,  forced  to  yield 
To  conquering  art  the  long  contested  field, 

Resigns  its  victim  to  the  smiles  of  peace, 

And  all  decay  and  irr m.tion  cease. 

5 


34 


DENTOLOGIA, 


Yet  oft,  through  ignorance  or  negligence, 

’Twere  hard  to  say,  through  lack  of  common  sense. 
The  fatal  spoiler  works  his  secret  way, 

With  noiseless  industry  from  day  to  day, 

All  undisturbed,  till,  lo,  the  work  is  done 
That  leaves  to  art  new  conquests  to  be  won. 

’Tis  thus  the  solid  teeth,  from  year  to  y ear, 

By  folly  or  misfortune  disappear, 

Announcing  man’s  inevitable  doom, 

And  pointing  to  the  portal  of  the  tomb.  (39) 

But  mark  the  triumphs  of  victorious  art, 

When  sighing  fair  ones  see  their  hopes  depart  ; 
When  speech  unsyllabled  offends,  and  when 
The  lisping  notes  of  childhood  come  again : 

When  vicious  chyle  from  undigested  food, 

Abates  the  vital  vigor  of  the  blood ; 

Then — ever  prompt  to  dry  misfortune’s  tears, 
Again  the  artist’s  magic  skill  appears. 

In  climes  remote,  where  sacred  Ganges  flows 
From  Thibet’s  mountains  of  eternal  snows, 

Or  far  beyond  the  golden  Gambia’s  source, 

Where  Lander  sought  the  Niger’s  mystic  course  ; 
The  lordly  elephant,  in  hoary  pride, 

Toils  through  successive  ages  to  provide 
The  ivory  tusk;  the  fertilizing  Nile 
Breeds  the  huge  Hippopotamus,  whose  spoil 
Supplies  new  treasures  ; — and  the  ocean  wave 
Nurtures  the  sea-calf  in  his  rocky  cave, 

To  furnish  fit  materials  to  impart 
Increased  importance  to  the  favorite  art. 

And  now,  while  every  sister  art  aspires 
To  light  her  torch  at  more  celestial  fires, 


DENTOLOGrIA, 


35 


The  Dentist,  e’en,  too  proud  to  lag  behind 
The  bold  aeronaut  who  rides  the  wind, 

Or  the  adventurous  mariner  that  braves, 

With  bellowing  steam,  the  fury  of  the  waves, 
O’erleaps  the  bounds  to  ancient  science  known, 
And  to  all  past  experience  adds  his  own. 

Thus,  strange  to  tell,  is  daring  genius  led 
By  truth  and  heaven,  exultingly  to  tread 
Untrodden  fields  in  nature’s  realms  afar, 

Beyond  the  milky  way  or  polar  star. 

Behold  the  dental  artist’s  bright  array 
Of  magic  wonders  glittering  to  the  day  ; — 

The  white  stalactite  from  the  mountain  cave  ; 

The  branching  coral  from  the  ocean  wave  ; 

The  crystal  from  the  rock  ; the  gem  that  shines 
With  decompounded  light  from  Indian  mines  ; 
And  alabaster  ; and  that  yellow  stone 
That  graces  jealous  beauty’s  virgin  zone  ; 

The  brightest  gifts  of  every  varying  clime, 
Resplendent  spoils  of  nature  and  of  time  ; — • 

And  see,  obedient  to  his  ruling  will, 

Their  forms  transmuted  by  his  plastic  skill, 

Till,  as  when  Cadmus,  coveting  to  reign, 

With  teeth  of  dragons  sowed  the  Theban  plain 
A marshalled  host  sprang  vigorous  from  the  glade, 
In  blazoned  arms  and  towering  plumes  arrayed  ; 
So  spring  to  light,  while  love  her  flag  unfurls, 

A shining  panoply  of  orient  pearls.  (40) 

With  aids  like  these,  from  nature’s  store  supplied, 
And  following  nature  man’s  unerring  guide, 

The  artist  bodly  ventures  to  restore 
The  dental  arch,  till,  perfect  as  before, 


36 


DENTOLOGIA. 


The  teeth  in  order  greet  the  wondering  sights 
A theme  of  admiration  and  delight ! 

Let  servile  tongues  applaud  the  glittering  state 
That  decks  the  vain,  hereditary  great ; 

The  circumventive  arts  of  dark  chicane, 

That  mark  the  general  game  of  loss  and  gain  ; 

The  statesman’s  tricks,  in  search  of  sordid  pelf, 

To  prove  that  none  are  patriots  but  himself ; 

The  feats  of  arms  that  strew  th’  embattled  plain 
With  mangled  limbs,  and  crimson  all  the  main  ; 

Be  mine  the  task  to  render  just  applause 
To  those  who  toil  in  virtue’s  nobler  cause ; 

Whose  serious  thoughts  and  labors  are  designed 
To  mitigate  the  woes  of  human  kind 
Whom  works  of  usefulness  and  love  employ, 

Like  Him  who  fills  unnumbered  worlds  with  joy.  (41) 


END  OF  CANTO  FOURTH. 


- 


A ' ' ^ 


CANTO  FIFTH. 


ARGUMENT. 


Apostrophe  to  health. — Sympathetic  action  of  disease  on  the  system 
- — Destructive  influence  of  disordered  teeth  on  the  lungs,  digestive 
organs,  and  nervous  structure. — Influence  of  the  teeth  on  health 
and  longevity,  arising  from  their  relation  to  the  solid  aliments  of 
man. — Importance  of  the  teeth  to  the  arts  of  eloquence  and  vocal 
music. — The  commander  addressing  his  troops  on  the  eve  of  bat- 
tle.— The  advocate  at  the  bar  of  justice,  pleading  the  cause  of 
injured  innocence. — The  venerable  pastor  exhorting  his  flock  to- 
pursue  the  path  to  heaven.— The  fate  of  Seraphina. 


CANTO  FIFTH. 


Come,  rosy  Health  ! thou  pretty  sun-burnt  maid. 
Ami  laugh  with  Labor  in  the  noon-day  shade; 
Awake  with  Temperance  at  the  peep  of  dawn, 
And  brush  the  dews  that  deck  the  fragrant  lawn. 

Enchanting  nymph  ! how  often  have  I seen 
Thy  quick  elastic  footstep  on  the  green, 

At  summer  eve  among  the  reaper  train, 

The  favorite  belle  of  many  a rustic  swain  ; 

The  village  minstrel  on  the  turf  reclined, 

To  melting  music  all  his  soul  resigned  ; — 

The  hills,  the  dales,  the  fields,  and  woods  around 
Seem  wrapped  in  silence,  listening  to  the  sound, 
Save  that  one  hoary  rock  across  the  plain, 

Returned  in  echo  every  silver  strain. 

Gay,  blushing  Health  1 without  thy  freshening  glow 
Pi  oti  acted  life  were  only  conscious  wo; 

And  earth’s  unnumbered  joys  would  end  in  pain, 

If  thou  wert  banished  from  the  fair  domain. 

Be  thou  the  blithe  companion  of  my  way, 

Through  cheerful  years,  to  life’s  remotest  day  ; 
Though  babbling  fame  should  eulogize  me  not, 

Nor  fortune  gild  my  solitary  cot. 


40 


DENTOLOGIA. 


Ye  lovely  fair,  who  deprecate  the  doom 
Assigned  by  general  taste  to  tarnished  bloom, 

Be  wise  in  time — ’tis  folly  to  delay  ; 

Cast  all  your  vile  cosmetic  drugs  away  ; 
Exchange  the  shallow  artifice  of  dress 
For  nature’s  more  enchanting  loveliness  ; 

And  know  that  blooming  health  alone  abides 
Where  chaste  and  temperate  cleanliness  besides. 


As,  when  the  sun  from  burning  Cancer  throws 
His  radiant  fires  till  all  the  ether  glows, 

The  spotted  plague  and  fever’s  frantic  train 
In  pop’lous  cities  hold  their  ghastly  reign, 

By  filth  engendered — by  intemperance  fed, 

Till  half  the  living  sink  among  the  dead, 

While  pale  affright,  with  desolating  brand, 

Spreads  consternation  through  the  trembling  land ; 

So,  in  the  breathing  microcosm  of  man, 

Each  slight  derangement  of  the  general  plan, 

Each  local  malady  of  every  name, 

Disturbs  throughout  the  sympathizing  frame. 

But  most  the  teeth,  for  various  use  employed, 

Disturb  the  system  when  themselves  destroyed  ; (42) 
For  when  these  organs  yielding  to  decay, 

In  morbid  exhalations  waste  away, 

The  vital  air,  from  heaven’s  aerial  flood, 

That  warms  with  life  the  circulating  blood, 

Bears  to  the  heaving  lungs  the  deadly  bane, 

Where  all  its  noxious  qualities  remain, 

While  every  breath  the  poisonous  draught  repeats, 
And  spreads  disease  with  every  pulse  that  beats.  (43) 


DENTOLOGIA. 


41 


Nor  less  the  nervous  sympathy  conveys 
Each  dental  malady  a thousand  ways,  (44) 

For,  as  the  witching  music  of  the  lyre, 

Is  heard  along  each  vibratory  wire, 

What  time  the  heaven-instructed  minstrel  flings 
His  hurried  hand  among  the  magic  strings  : — 
So  when  disease  invades  the  dental  arch, 

And  strides  in  anguish  on  his  angry  march, 

His  burning  touch,  like  the  electric  flame, 

Flashes  through  every  fibre  of  the  frame  ; 

Fever  ensues,  with  all  its  raging  fires, 

And  oft  the  maniac  sufferer  expires.  (45) 

And  yet  of  all  the  evils  that  accrue 
From  loss  of  teeth,  though  neither  small  nor  few, 
The  chief  is  this  ; — ’tis  nature’s  general  plan, 
That  all  the  solid  aliments  of  man, 

Before  admission  to  the  secret  shrine, 

Where  vital  chemistry,  with  skill  divine, 
Transforms  the  cruder  mass  to  milky  chyme, 

By  nature’s  metamorphosis  sublime, — 

Should  suffer  comminution  ; — hence  we  find 
The  dental  organs  formed  to  cut,  and  grind, 

And  masticate  the  food  : — this  rightly  done, 

The  process  of  digestion,  well  begun, 

Results  in  health  to  each  dependant  part, 

That  feels  the  living  impulse  of  the  heart.  (46) 

But  when,  from  loss  of  teeth,  the  food  must  pass, 
A crude,  and  rigid,  and  unbroken  mass. 

To  the  digestive  organs  : who  can  know, 

What  various  forms  of  complicated  wo, 

May  rise  terrific  from  that  single  source  ? (47) 

For  nature,  once  resisted  in  her  course, 

6 


42 


DENTOLOGIA. 


Breeds  frightful  things — a monstrous  progeny  ! 
Consumption,  fevers,  palsy,  leprosy, 

The  hobbling  gout,  that  chides,  at  every  breath, 

The  lingering  pace  of  alb  destroying  death  ; 

And  apoplexy,  dragging  to  his  doom 
The  half  surviving  victim  of  the  tomb. 

See  thus  the  mortal  life  of  erring  man, 

Reduced  by  vice  and  folly  to  a span ; 

And  years  of  joy  alloted  him  below, 

Exchanged  for  fleeting  months  of  bitter  wo  1 

The  Power  Supreme,  who  gave  all  being  birth. 

And  fashioned  man  the  sovereign  lord  of  earth, 
Free-will  and  understanding  both  bestowed, 

The  likeness  and  the  image  of  his  God  ; 

And  gave  what  beast,  bird,  fish,  could  never  reach, 
The  all-controlling  attribute  of  speech. 
Transcendantgift ! that  elevates  our  kind 
To  all  the  lofty  pleasures  of  the  mind  ; 

To  social  joys  ; — to  all  the  polished  arts, 

That  spring  from  sympathy  of  kindred  hearis  ! 

This  power  of  speech,  in  which  are  nicely  wrought. 
All  shades  of  feeling,  and  all  forms  of  thought ; 

The  silver  cord  that  binds  all  human  kind; 

The  circulating  medium  of  the  mind  ; — 

Results  from  organs  formed  with  heavenly  art, 

To  act  in  concert  their  appointed  part. 

With  these  the  dentals  hold  the  foremost  place, 
Since,  to  their  loss  or  injury,  we  trace 
The  greater  part  of  those  imperfect  sounds 
With  which  the  general  speech  of  man  abounds. 


DENTOLOGrIA. 


43 


Behold  the  orator,  in  church  or  state, 

When  warm  persuasion,  or  when  cool  debate 
Impels  the  common  mind  to  daring  deeds, 

While  virtue  triumphs,  or  a nation  bleeds. 

His  vocal  organs,  trained  with  patient  skill, 

Perform  their  part,  obedient  to  his  will. 

If  rampant  war,  with  all  its  dire  alarms, 

Employ  his  eloquence  ; the  shock  of  arms, 

The  shouts  of  armies,  and  their  dying  groans, 

Roll  on  his  quivering  lips  in  silver  tones, 

While  murmuring  crowds,  impatient  still  to  go, 

Rush  to  the  pathway  leading  to  the  foe  ! 

If  lovely  innocence,  when  fair  and  young, 

Fall  by  the  vile  seducer’s  lying  tongue, 

And  seek  redress  where  justice  holds  her  throne, 

The  trembling  wretch,  unfriended  and  alone, 

And  bathed  in  bitter  tears,  invokes  the  laws, 

And  calls  on  heaven  to  vindicate  her  cause  : — 

The  orator  appears : — his  searching  glance, 

A moment,  eyes  the  culprit  wretch  askance, 

That  crushed  the  bleeding  flower: — words  follow  next, 
And  as  the  foaming  mountain  torrent,  vext 
By  the  projecting  cliff,  in  angry  bound, 

Decends  in  cataracts,  with  thundering  sound, 

Till  all  the  desert  wild,  and  savage  rock, 

And  hoary  mountain,  tremble  at  the  shock, 

So  does  the  stream  of  eloquence  impart 
A palsied  shuddering  to  the  villain’s  heart ! 

The  listening  crowd  reply  with  loud  acclaim, 

While  Emmet  lives — immortal  heir  of  fame  ! 

On  yonder  hill,  which  freshening  shades  invest, 

Beneath  whose  spreading  boughs  forever  rest 


44 


DENTOLOGIA. 


The  mouldering  ashes  of  the  son  and  sire, 

The  village  church  erects  its  modest  spire. 

Behold,  each  Sabbath  morn,  with  measured  pace, 

The  silent  groups  that  seek  that  hallowed  place, 

And  mark,  how  meek  devotion  worships  there, 

With  heart  uplifted  in  the  hour  of  prayer. 

The  morning  song  of  love  is  sweetly  sung, 

While  heaven’s  own  flame  inspires  each  tuneful  tongue 
And  see — the  venerable  man  appears, 

White  with  the  hoary  frosts  of  threescore  years  ; — 
The  good  old  man,  whose  useful  hours  have  flown, 

To  sooth  all  others’  sorrows  but  his  own  ; — 

Whose  daily  labors  to  mankind  are  given, 

In  charity,  but  all  his  heart  to  heaven. 

So  pure  the  life  this  virtuous  man  has  passed, 

That  all  his  powers  are  perfect  to  the  last ; 

No  borrowed  lock  to  grace  his  brow  aspires  ; 

No  optic  glass  his  vigorous  eye  requires  ; 

He  lacks  no  single  tooth  that  nature  gave, 

Nor  asks  a staff  to  guide  him  to  the  grave.  (48) 

With  voice  subdued,  and  unobtrusive  mein, 

He  speaks  of  heaven , — he  paints  the  flowery  scene, 
Where  angel-natures — forms  of  purest  love, 

Meet  in  the  bowers  of  innocence  above, 

To  drink  at  living  fountains,  and  be  fed 
On  fruits  immortal,  and  the  living  bread, 

Till  gushing  tears  fall  fast  from  every  eye, 

And  faith  and  hope  look  smiling  to  the  sky. 

Yet,  in  that  choir  that  sung  the  morning  song, 

One  vacant  seat  afflicts  the  listening  throng  ; 

One  well  known  voice,  admired  so  oft  before. 

For  sweetest  melody,  is  heard  no  more. 


DENTOLOGIA. 


45 


Is  Seraphina  dead,  whose  melting  strains 

Had  won  the  hearts  of  all  the  neighbouring  swains  ? 

Or  does  she  now  forsake  the  house  of  prayer, 

And  spurn  her  venerable  pastor’s  care  ? 

Unjust  suspicion  ! tarnish  not  her  fame, 

Nor  let  reproach  attaint  her  spotless  name  ; 

For  while  her  mellow  voice  obeyed  her  will, 

She  fondly  lingered  our  musician  still ; 

And  though  by  cruel  fate  compelled  to  part, 

She  leaves  us  all  the  homage  of  her  heart. 

To  lonly  solitude  she  gives  her  hours, 

In  shady  copse,  or  shadier  garden-bowers  : — 

In  silent  grief,  and  unconsoled,  she  pines, 

And  scarce  to  heaven’s  high  will  her  soul  resigns. 
For,  lo,  the  heavenly  music  of  her  lip — 

So  sweet,  the  laboring  bees  might  stop  to  sip, 

Has  passed  away  ; discordant  notes  succeed, 

And  Seraphina’s  bosom  lives  to  bleed. 

Ye  ask  the  cause  : — by  premature  decay, 

Two  of  her  dental  pearls  have  passed  away  ; 

The  two  essential  to  those  perfect  strains, 

That  charm  the  soul  when  heavenly  music  reigns. 
But  fly,  ye  swains,  to  Seraphina  fly, 

And  bid  her  fastly  flowing  tears  be  dry  ; 

Haste  to  her  cottage,  where  in  vain  she  seeks 
To  wipe  the  burning  deluge  from  her  cheeks  ; 

And  when  you  find  her,  soothe  her  frantic  mind, 
And  bid  her  cast  her  sorrows  to  the  wind  ; 

In  secret  whisper  this  kind  truth  impart  ; — 

There  is  a remedy  : — the  dental  art 
Can  every  varying  tone  with  ease  restore, 

And  give  thee  music  sweeter  than  before  ! — 


46 


DENTOLOGIA. 


Thus,  to  desponding  man  in  life’s  dark  way, 
The  angel,  mercy,  points  the  opening  day  ; 
And  through  the  tear  that  trembles  in  his  eye, 
Reveals  the  glories  of  her  kindred  sky.  (49) 


END  OF  CANTO  FIFTH. 


APPENDIX. 


NOTES. 

(1)  But  lot  their  art  survives  to  bless  the  world. 

Hippocrates,  a lineal  descendant  of  Esculapius,  the  first  accurate 
observer,  and  the  first  eminent  physician  of  which  we  have  any  defi- 
nite account,  flourished  in  Greece,  about  four  hundred  and  sixty 
years  before  the  Christian  era.  He  describes  in  various  parts  of  his 
works,  as  well  the  functions  and  period  of  appearance  of  the  several 
teeth,  as  their  principal  diseases,  and  the  plan  of  treating  them,  both 
by  manual  operations  and  by  dentrifices. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  Christian  era,  we  find  in  the  writings 
of  Celsus,  a celebrated  physician  of  Rome,  very  explicit  instructions 
on  the  subject  of  several  important  operations  on  the  teeth ; and 
during  the  recent  excavation  at  Pompeii  and  Herculaneum,  several 
dental  implements  have  been  discovered,  much  resembling  some  of 
those  in  use  at  the  present  day. 

Celsus  treats  of  scarifying  the  gums,  of  extracting,  scraping,  and 
even  of  stopping  teeth ; and  fixing  loosened  teeth  with  gold  wire  ; — ■ 
indeed,  this  last  practice  is  alluded  to  in  the  twelve  tables  of  the 
Roman  laws. 

The  Latin  poet,  Martial,  makes  habitual  allusion  to  artificial  teeth, 
as  worn  by  the  ladies  of  Rome  in  his  time. 

The  celebrated  Arabian  surgeon,  Albucasis,  in  the  tenth  century, 
enters  very  extensively  into  descriptions  of  dental  operations,  and 
gives  drawings  of  a great  number  of  instruments,  used  in  his  time 
for  extracting,  scraping,  loosening,  and  even  of  filing  the  teeth,  a 
practice  which  had  been  introduced  more  recently  than  any  of  the 
others. 

It  was  not  till  the  seventeenth  century  that  we  have  authentic 
records  of  the  exercise  of  the  profession  of  dentistry  distinctly  from 
that  of  surgery.  Gillies,  and  other  practitioners  in  France,  received 
the  title  of  surgeon  dentists  as  early  as  1622. 

In  the  year  1700,  persons  destined  for  the  dental  profession  were 
compelled,  in  France,  to  submit  themselves  to  a regular  examination  ; 
and  it  is  from  this  period  that  we  must  date,  in  modern  times,  the  regu- 
lar establishment  of  this  art,  as  a distinct  branch  of  surgical  practice,, 


§0’ 


APPENDIX. 


Among  those  who  distinguished  themselves  as  dentists  during  the 
last  century,  were  Berdmore,  Fauchard,  Gerauldy,  Larini,  Bunon, 
Mouton,  Leclure,  Bourdet,  Aitkin,  De  Chemant,  Kay,  Moore,  and 
Talma ; and  it  is  to  the  undivided  attention  of  such  men  as  these, 
that  we  must  attribute  the  vast  additions  made  during  that  period,  to 
our  knowledge  of  the  structure  and  diseases  of  the  teeth. 

Of  the  authors  who  have  written  on  the  subject  during  the  present 
century,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  mention  here,  Blake,  Fox,  Duval,  Le 
Forgue,  De  la  Barre,  Beaume,  Maury,  Bell,  Koecker,  Fitch,  and  Hare. 

There  are  many  others  whose  experience  would  enable  them  to 
produce  works  highly  useful  to  the  world,  and  particularly  to  young 
practitioners. 

Mr.  Cartwright,  of  London,  with  whom  I have  the  pleasure  of  a 
personal  acquaintance,  is  known  to  be  the  most  celebrated  dentist 
now  in  Europe,  but  has  not  as  yet  made  public  his  views,  in  relation  to 
his  practice.  It  is  most  earnestly  to  be  hoped  that  he  will  shortly 
publish  his  opinions. 

Mr.  John  Waite,  who,,  for  many  years,  not  only  had  the  most 
extensive  practice,  but  was  the  best  practitioner  in  London,  died 
without  leaving  any  thing  behind  him  in  the  way  of  writing. 

We  have  cause  also  to  regret  that  the  late  Dr.  Hudson,  of  Phila- 
delphia, did  not,  during  his  life  time,  embody  his  professional  princi- 
ples for  the  benefit  of  his  contemporaries,  and  those  who  shall  succeed 
him  in  dental  operations.  I may  say,  without  fear  of  contradiction, 
that  he  has  left  behind  him  no  one  in  this  country  so  able  to  instruct, 
and  so  well  qualified,  from  observation  and  experience,  to  be  useful 
to  the  student.  I am  well  pleased  to  learn  that  he  left  a large  collec- 
tion of  notes  and  memoranda  on  his  practice,  and  critical  remarks  on 
the  writings  and  practice  of  other  dentists,  all  of  which  have  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  Doctor  Trenor,  of  this  city,  to  whom  the  profession 
is  already  indebted  for  several  very  valuable  papers  on  sub- 
jects connected  with  his  profession.  With  so  valuable  help  as  the 
papers  of  Doctor  Hudson,  so  able  and  zealous  a compiler  as  Doctor 
Trenor  may  well  encourage  the  profession  to  expect  a work  of  great 
value  to  all  who  wish  to  become  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
theory  and  practice  of  dental  surgery.  I cannot  forbear  making  an 
extract  from  an  article  published  in  one  of  the  Philadelphia  papers, 
from  the  pen  of  my  highly  esteemed  friend,  Doctor  Fitch,  author  of 
the  most  comprehensive  work  on  the  teeth  ever  published  in  this 
country.  The  extract  which  follows,  is  a just  tribute  of  respect  to 
the  memory  of  departed  worth,  and  alike  creditable  to  the  feelings 
and  liberality  of  the  author  ; and  I believe  every  dentist  who  had  the 
slightest  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Hudson’s  practice,  will  cheerfully 
admit  the  propriety  of  Doctor  Fitch’s  eulogium. 

“ Some  abler  pen — some  nearer  friend,  may  tell  his  merits  as  a 
parent,  a husband,  and  a citizen.  The  writer  of  this  will,  presume 
only  to  speak  of  him  as  a professional  man.  Those  only  who  have 


APPENDIX. 


51 


carefully  attended  to  the  subject,  can  have  any  adequate  idea  of  the 
benefit  the  labors  of  Doctor  Hudson  have  conferred,  not  only  upon 
the  people  of  this  city,  but  of  every  part  of  the  United  States. 

“ When  he  commenced  his  practice  here,  he  found  the  profession, 
generally,  at  a very  low  ebb,  usually  exercised  by  mechanics. 
Those  great  principles  which  elevate  dental  surgery  from  an  art  to  a 
science,  were  almost  entirely  overlooked  or  unknown.  To  remove 
this  mass  of  rubbish — to  obliterate  bitter  and  widely  extended  pre- 
judices, was  the  task  of  Doctor  Hudson.  How  well  he  performed 
this  duty  can  only  be  estimated  by  a reference  to  the  state  of  the 
profession  at  the  time  he  commenced  his  practice,  and  when  he  was 
taken  from  it  by  the  hand  of  death. 

“ Previously  to  his  time,  nearly  all  the  talent  among  the  dentists  of 
this  country  was  directed  to  the  making  and  insertion  of  artificial 
teeth.  Doctor  Hudson  taught  the  possibility  and  the  immense  advan- 
tage of  preserving  the  living  teeth , instead  of  suffering  their  loss,  and 
resorting  to  artificial  ones.  He  taught  that,  by  strictly  attending  to  the 
dentition  of  children,  all  the  irregularities  and  deformity  of  the  teeth 
might  be  prevented ; and  that  by  continuing  our  attentions,  and  per- 
forming timely  operations  upon  any  of  those  which  might  become 
defective,  these  useful  organs  may  be  preserved  in  perfection  during 
our  whole  lives. 

“Founded  upon  these  principles,  and  recommended  by  his  admir- 
able operations,  the  practice  of  Doctor  Hudson  soon  became  the 
praise  and  admiration  of  all  who  witnessed  or  experienced  its  bene- 
ficial effects.  His  name  was  soon  placed  as  first  amongst  all  those  who 
practised  dentistry  in  this  country.  This  reputation  he  always 
retained. 

“ In  another  way  his  superior  system  of  practice  has  conferred  an 
amount  of  benefit  which  can  never  be  fully  appreciated.  It  is,  that 
his  excellent  and  highly  finished  operations  have  long  been  models  of 
imitation  to  other  dentists.  For  a great  many  years,  to  equal  his 
operations  has  been  the  highest  ambition  of  other  practitioners; 
none  expected  to  excel  them. 

“ The  gentlemanly  deportment  of  Doctor  Hudson  to  his  patients 
and  patrons,  his  urbanity,  his  mildness,  pointed  him  out  as  a model  to 
all  surgeon  dentists. 

“ Finally : he  ever  sustained  the  dignity  and  respectability  of  the 
profession, inspired  confidence  in  its  capabilities,  and  demonstrated  its 
claims  to  a high  standing  among  those  professions  which  contribute  to 
the  well  being  and  happiness  of  the  human  family.” 

I have  lately  been  informed  that  Doctor  Flagg,  of  Boston,  a gen- 
tleman well  known  for  his  professional  ability,  is  now  preparing  a 
work  of  considerable  extent,  designed  for  the  student  and  profession 
at  large.  Mr.  Arnold,  also,  of  this  city,  a well  educated  dentist,  is 
translating  a popular  French  work. 


52 


APPENDIX. 


(2)  The  teeth , deciduous , totter  and  decay. 

The  teeth  are  composed  of  two  very  distinct  substances.  The 
internal  is  called  the  osseous  part,  or  rather  ivory,  and  forms  the 
greatest  part  of  a tooth ; the  external,  which  envelopes  the  former 
like  a thin  incrustation,  on  all  that  part  which  is  out  of  the  sockets 
from  the  commencement  of  the  roots,  is  the  enamel. 

“ At  the  extremity  of  each  root  there  is  a very  small  hole,  by 
which  the  blood  vessels  and  a nervous  filament  penetrate,  destined  to 
give  it  life  and  nourishment.  The  nerve  and  the  blood  vessels  conti- 
nue their  course  in  a narrow  canal,  with  which  the  root  is  provided, 
and  form,  in  the  interior  of  the  tooth,  a pulpy  mass,  composed  of 
a gelatinous  substance,  contained  in  a very  thin  mucous  membrane, 
formed  by  the  development  of  the  nerve  and  its  vessels.  It  is  by 
means  of  this  membrane,  that  the  tooth  forms  and  nourishes  itself, 
and  acquires  its  increase.”  (Gerbeaux,  on  the  Teeth , Edinburgh 
Edition , 1817,  pp.  34,  35,  36.) 

(3)  Would  shield  defenceless  infancy  from  harm. 

“ The  teeth  furnish  very  considerable  characteristics  of  scrofulous 
habits.  Either  they  are  badly  formed  as  to  their  common  outline ; 
their  surfaces  are  corrugated  and  discolored  ; or,  if  they  be  vrell 
shapen  individually,  their  enamel  is  very  thin,  and  preternaturally 
white  ; and  the  spaces  between  the  teeth  are  unusually  wide.  It  is 
a wise  precaution  to  observe  the  teeth  of  nurses  ; for  1 should  always 
question  the  fitness  of  a wet  nurse,  with  a bad  set  of  teeth,  however 
other  circumstances  may  be  in  her  favor.”  ( View  of  the  Alimentary 
Organs , by  Thomas  Hare , London , 1821,  p.  228.) 

(4)  And  patient  merit  never  want  a friend. 

“ It  is  to  be  hoped,  that  in  time,  patients  will  be  able  to  discover 
that  educated  men  are  successful  in  a far  greater  number  of  instances 
than  even  the  most  fortunate  of  advertising  empirics.  But  it  is  an 
old  complaint,  and,  unhappily,  though  old,  not  an  obsolete  one,  that 
ignorant  pretension,  especially  when  wrapped  in  mystery,  is  more 
attractive  to  the  million,  than  modest  ability.  It  is  consoling  how- 
ever, to  the  respectable  practitioner  to  know,  that  while  empirical 
trickery  may  confer  an  evanescent  fame,  sound  scientific  acquirement 
is  the  only  basis  on  which  can  be  founded  a reputation  solid,  pro- 
gressive, and  enduring.”  (Snell  on  the  Teeth , 1882,  p.  164. 


APPENDIX. 


53 


(5)  And  seeks  from  science  her  appointed  part. 

“ Infants  have  been  born  with  one  or  more  teeth  ; this  was  the 
ease  with  the  great  monarch,  Louis  XIV.,  in  whom  the  presence  of 
a tooth  at  his  birth,  seemed  the  presage  of  his  future  greatness ; — 
Polydore  Yirgil  also  mentions  a child  that  was  born  with  six  teeth  ; 
but  towards  the  end  of  the  first  year  is  the  most  usual  time  for  the 
teeth  to  appear,  and  about  the  thirtieth  month  they  are  all  cut,  to  the 
number  of  twenty  : they  are  called  milk  teeth,  either  because  they 
cut  while  milk  is  the  only  nourishment,  or  because  they  equal  that 
fluid  in  whiteness.  They  are  also  called  primitive  or  casting  teeth  : 
they  are  ten  in  number  in  each  jaw  ; four  of  which  are  incisors,  two 
canine,  and  four  grinders.  The  incisors  of  the  [lower  jaw  appear 
first,  then  those  of  the  upper  jaw,  afterward  the  canine,  or,  more 
frequently,  the  grinders. 

“ Every  thing  here  appears  to  be  for  the  advantage  of  the  infant ; 
an  interval  of  a month  or  six  weeks,  between  the  cutting  of  each 
tooth,  seems  designed  to  calm  the  irritation  which  generally  accom- 
panies this  evolution  ; for  it  is  rare  to  cut  these  teeth,  and  particu- 
larly the  canine,  without  a swelling  in  the  gums,  heat  of  the  mouth, 
salivation,  and  redness  of  the  cheeks.  This  is  the  way  that  dentition 
usually  proceeds ; sometimes  it  is  so  calm  and  easy,  that  the  ten- 
derest  mother  has  no  reason  to  fear,  while  at  other  times  it  is  so 
laborious,  and  attended  with  so  many  accidents,  as  to  put  the  life  of 
the  child  in  jeopardy  ; in  this  latter  case,  whatever  be  the  cause,  the 
effects  are  sufficiently  obvious ; they  have  been  observed  from  the 
earliest  times,  and  almost  in  every  country,  and  accord  with  the 
observation  of  Hippocrates : ‘ Those/  says  he,  * whose  teeth  are  on 
the  point  of  cutting,  are  affected  with  itching  of  the  gums,  fevers, 
convulsions,  diarrhoeas  ; especially  in  cutting  the  canine  teeth,  and  in 
those  children  which  are  fat,  and  of  a constipated  habit  of  body/ — 
{Aphor.  sec.  III.  25.)  To  add  to  this  picture,  would  be  to  augment 
that  dread  of  dentition  which  sensible  mothers  feel  but  too  acutely  at 
present ; without  being  able  to  foresee  or  to  combat  those  causes, 
which  often  render  it  violent,  and  sometimes  mortal.  But  to  dissem- 
ble, and  to  say  that  dentition  is  never  difficult  and  perilous,  would  be  to 
consign  too  many  mothers  to  a perfidious  security,  and  one  day  they 
would  have  but  too  much  reason  to  complain  of  this  silence.”  ( Den - 
tiste  de  la  jeunesse , by  Duval , Atkinson’s  translation , pp.  29,  30,  31.) 

(6)  And  flooding  tears , in  sad  succession  rise. 

The  first  set  of  teeth  begin  to  protrude  generally  about  the  sixth 
or  eighth  month  ; but  in  some  cases  the  teeth  have  been  known  to 
make  their  appearance  as  early  as  the  fourth  .or  fifth  month,;  and 


54 


APPENDIX. 


sometimes,  on  the  contrary,  not  until  the  fourteenth  or  fifteenth.  The 
period  of  teething  does  not  depend  on  the  health  and  strength  of  the 
child,  as  this  process  sometimes  seems  slowest  with  the  strongest 
children. 

The  two  incisors  of  the  under  jaw  are  the  first  which  make  their 
appearance  ; and  are  followed,  in  about  three  weeks  or  a month,  by 
similar  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw.  The  lateral  incisors  of  the  under 
jaw  are  the  next  which  follow.  Nature  then  interrupts  this  uniform- 
ity of  progress,  and  instead  of  the  canine  teeth,  which  are  the  next 
in  situation,  the  anterior  molares  of  the  under  jaw  make  their  ap- 
pearance, and  are  succeeded  in  a short  time  by  those  of  the  upper. 
The  canine  teeth  and  larger  molares  then  follow  to  complete  the  set, 
which  is  generally  effected  in  about  two  years  and  a half.  Devia- 
tions from  this  order  are  occasionally  met  with,  and,  in  some  in- 
stances, children  have  been  known  to  be  born  with  the  two  front 
incisors  of  the  lower  jaw ; but  as  such  premature  growth  cannot  be 
perfect,  and  as  such  teeth  occasion  much  pain  and  inconvenience  to 
the  child,  it  is  always  advisable  to  extract  them.  The  first  dentition 
is  a critical  period  in  the  life  of  a child ; and  the  mortality  from  this 
cause  is  clearly  ascertained  to  comprise  more  than  half  of  those  that 
die  under  the  age  of  two  years.  The  efforts  which  the  teeth  make 
to  unfold  themselves,  naturally  produce  a powerful  tension  and  pres- 
sure on  the  gums  ; and  this  gives  rise  to  irritation  and  pain.  The 
gums  become  swelled  and  inflamed ; the  saliva  is  constantly  dis- 
charged from  the  mouth,  and  the  whole  frame  seems  to  labor  under 
the  influence  of  fever. 

It  is  proper,  therefore,  that  every  parent  should  be  aware  of  the 
consequences  that  may  ensue,  in  order  to  resort  to  those  means  which 
experience  has  found  to  be  most  successful  in  affording  relief.  This  can 
be  obtained  only  by  lessening  the  pressure  of  the  tooth  on  the  gum. 
To  accomplish  this,  the  child  is  generally  allowed  some  hard  sub- 
stance to  rub  thereon ; but  this,  although  it  may  give  temporary 
relief,  tends  in  the  end  to  increase  the  irritation.  Gentle  friction 
with  the  finger  will  be  found  to  afford  more  relief,  and  may  be  ren- 
dered still  more  effectual  by  the  use  of  a little  fine  salt,  or  any  other 
substance  which  will  cause  a discharge,  and  therefore  reduce  the 
inflammatory  action  of  the  vessels.  Scarification,  however,  seems 
to  be  the  safest  experiment  that  can  be  employed.  This  is  performed 
by  the  point  of  a lancet,  pressed  down  upon  the  tooth,  until  the  gum 
and  the  investing  membrane  be  fully  divided.  The  pressure  being 
by  this  means  taken  off,  the  child  will  experience  instantaneous  relief. 
Parents  should  be  cautious  how  they  give  way  to  any  vulgar  preju- 
dice against  an  operation  by  which  many  have  been  freed  from  the 
most  dangerous  symptoms. 

The  use  of  the  coral  has  been  recommended  by  persons  totally 
ignorant  of  the  disorders  of  dentition,  in  opposition  to  the  opinions  of 
those  who  have  made  the  teeth  their  exclusive  study.  I am  decidedly 


APPENDIX. 


55 


in  favor  of  the  theory  of  Doctor  Blake,  who  says  “ The  coral  is  a 
most  dangerous  weapon,  put  into  the  hands  of  children  to  destroy 
themselves  ; for  as  the  teeth  arise  and  become  slightly  elevated  above 
the  edge  of  the  socket,  those  hard  bodies  press  and  bruise  the  gum 
between  them  and  the  sharp  points  or  edge  of  the  tooth  underneath  ; 
inflammation  and  its  consequences  undoubtedly  follow  ; and  in  this 
way,  I am  firmly  persuaded,  the  lives  of  thousands  of  children  have 
been  lost.” 

Dentition  is  often  accompanied  by  a fever  of  an  inflammatory  na- 
ture ; the  cheeks  become  flushed ; the  eyes  heavy  and  the  skin  hot 
and  parched ; the  rest  is  broken  and  the  appetite  lost ; and  if  timely 
assistance  be  not  obtained,  convulsions  sometimes  suddenly  super- 
vene, and  not  unfrequently  terminate  fatally. 

The  mildest  effort  which  marks  the  interposition  of  nature,  is  the 
appearance  of  numerous  eruptions  of  the  skin  ; the  period  of  denti- 
tion marks  their  true  nature,  they  are  never  removed  nor  cured  until 
the  cause  ceases  to  exist. 

(7)  And  neither  wound  too  little  nor  too  much . 

“ As  far  as  my  experience  has  taught  me,”  says  Dr.  John  Hunter, 
“ to  cut  the  gum  down  to  the  tooth,  appears  to  be  the  only  method  of 
cure.  It  acts  either  by  taking  oft'  the  tension  upon  the  gum,  arising 
from  the  growth  of  the  tooth,  or  by  preventing  the  ulceration  which 
must  otherwise  take  place.  It  often  happens  that  the  gum  will 
re-unite  over  the  tooth ; in  which  case  the  same  symptoms  will  be 
produced,  and  they  must  be  removed  by  the  same  method.  I have 
performed  the  operation  above  ten  times  upon  the  same  teeth,  when 
the  disease  had  recurred  so  often,  and  every  time  with  the  absolute 
removal  of  the  symptoms.  The  gunis  may  bleed  a little,  which 
may  be  of  service  in  taking  off  the  inflammation.  I never  saw  a case 
where  the  bleeding  either  proved  inconvenient  or  dangerous.”- — 
(. Hunter  on  the  Human  Teeth , pp.  240,  243.) 

(8)  Let  unobstructed  nature  do  the  rest . 

“ If  we  consult  the  tables  of  mortality  in  the  towns  and  villages? 
the  number  of  the  victims  of  dentition,  will  certainly  appear  appal- 
ling ; and  they  are  always  found  to  be  more  numerous  in  the  former 
than  in  the  latter.  Happy  villages  ! Your  industrious  inhabitants, 
with  usages  as  ancient  as  their  manners,  raise  their  little  ones  in  a 
manner  more  conformable  to  nature  ; they  do  not  offer,  in  their  cares, 
the  spectacle  of  that  refinement,  which  the  mothers  of  the  city,  with 
more  appearance  of  sensibility,  have  drawn  from  the  theories  of  educa- 
tion, which  do  not  acknowledge  experience  for  their  base.”  ( Atkin - 
son's  Duval , p.  36.) 


56 


APPENDIX.. 


(9)  Descends  lamented  to  an  early  tomb. 

Since  in  childhood  the  first  sufferings  begin,  in  childhood  also  the 
foundation  of  a good  or  bad  constitution  is  laid.  It  is  at  this  critical 
time  that  the  greatest  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  state  of  the 
gums,  to  mark  the  protrusion  of  the  teeth,,  as  well  as  the  after 
changes  ; for  it  is  only  by  knowing  the  steps  and  order  of  their  pro- 
gress, that  proper  aid  can  be  given  to  the  efforts  of  nature,  during 
the  years  of  childhood.”  L.  8.  Parmb/s  Lectures , pp.  34,  35.) 

(10)  In  one , deformity  ;—the  other , pain. 

This  deformity  generally  arises  from  inattention  during  the  time  of 
shedding  teeth.  The  remedy  consists  in  removing  the  causes,  of 
which  there  are  man)/.  The  first  is  when  the  growth  of  the  jaw  is 
insufficient  for  the  new  set,  and  thus  forcing  them  to  crowd  and  over- 
lap each  other,  by  which  the  central  incisors  of  the  upper  jaw  are 
pressed  forward,  and  thus  forming  what  has  been  termed,  from  its 
shape,  “a  rabbit  mouth.”  In  such  cases,  the  extraction  of  one  or 
more  of  the  bicuspides  from  each  side  of  the  mouth  is  absolutely  ne- 
cessary, in  order  to  bring  the  incisors  into  a regular  arrangement, 
which,  after  this  operation,  is  easily  effected,  by  the  occasional  pres- 
sure of  the  thumb  and  finger,  or  by  a judicious  application  of  silken 
ligatures. 

It  is  sometimes,  however,  necessary  to  apply  gold  plates,  springs, 
and  other  mechanical  contrivances,  to  bring  them  into  a regular  ar- 
rangement. 

A second  irregularity  arises  from  supernumerary  teeth.  This 
takes  place,  most  frequently,  in  the  front  teeth  of  the  upper  jaw,  and 
thus  gives  it  a most  unseemly  appearance.  In  this  case  it  is  like- 
wise necessary  to  have  recourse  to  extraction  as  soon  as  possible. 

A third  irregularity,  and  one  of  frequent  occurrence,  arises  from 
one  tooth  projecting  beyond  another.  This  is  easily  remedied  by 
removing  the  projecting  part  with  a proper  instrument. 

A fourth  irregularity  consists  in  the  teeth  having  formed  themselves 
into  ragged  edges : and  a fifth,  in  their  having  received  fractures  from 
blows  or  falls.  The  last  two  irregularities  are  principally  confined 
to  the  front  teeth,  from  their  frequent  action  against  each  other,  more 
especially  when  the  back  ones  have  been  lost ; and  from  being,  by 
their  situation,  more  exposed  to  accident.  These  irregularities  are 
likewise  remedied  by  removing  portions  from  their  cutting  edges. 
This  operation  is  not  only  one  of  the  most  useful,  but  it  is  often  abso- 
lutely necessary  ; for  diseases  of  the  tongue  and  cheek  are  some- 
times occasioned  by  projecting,  or  badly  formed  teeth : and  it  not 
unfrequently  happens,  that  very  useful  teeth  are  extracted,  to  the 


APPENDIX. 


57 


future  inconvenience  of  the  patient,  when  the  judicious  removal  of 
portions  only  would  have  answered  every  purpose ; and  that  a par- 
tial loss  of  enamel  from  the  cutting  edges  never  produces  decay, 
while  the  natural  cavity  in  the  tooth  remains  untouched,  is  evident 
from  the  well  known  practice  of  savage  nations,  who  cut  their  teeth 
into  various  shapes  without  incurring  any  disease.  When  fractures 
are  too  extensive  to  be  remedied  by  the  above  treatment,  various 
circumstances,  particularly  the  age  of  the  person,  must  influence  the 
mode  of  proceeding.  If  the  fracture  be  of  one  tooth,  and  the  per- 
son has  not  arrived  at  the  age  of  maturity,  the  extraction  of  the 
fractured  tooth,  by  giving  the  adjoining  ones  the  opportunity  of  ap- 
proaching each  other,  will  render  the  defect  but  inconsiderable. 
When,  however,  such  accidents  occur  at  an  advanced  period  of  life, 
this  kind  of  treatment  can  hardly  be  expected  to  be  entirely  success- 
ful ; but  as  there  is  no  other  means  of  remedying  the  defect,  unless 
it  be  the  insertion  of  an  artificial  tooth,  the  earlier  assistance  is  pro- 
cured, the  greater  will  be  the  chance  of  success.  A tooth  that  has 
been  knocked  out  without  injury  to  its  socket,  will  fasten  again,  if 
immediately  returned  and  secured  in  its  place.. 

Mr.  Duval  has  the  following  judicious  remark  on  this  subject : — 
“ It  is  from  the  age  of  six  years  to  that  of  fourteen,  being  the  usual 
period  of  the  second  dentition,  that  the  teeth  require  the  greatest 
care.  When  there  is  any  disposition  to  irregularity,  they  ought  to 
be  inspected  once  or  twice  a year  by  the  surgeon  dentist,  who  can 
in  almost  all  cases  ensure  a regular  arrangement.”  (page  27.) 

(11)  Avoid  the  danger , or  repair  the  ill. 

The  protrusion  of  the  second  set  of  teeth  is,  in  general,  attended 
with  no  pain  or  uneasiness.  This  set,  when  complete,  consists  of 
thirty-two  teeth,  being  twelve  more  than  the  first  set.  But  though 
the  regular  number  of  the  second  set  of  teeth  is  thirty-two,  a defi- 
ciency of  this  number  sometimes  occurs,  and  this  deficiency  is  gene- 
rally confined  to  the  dentes  sapientise,  or  wisdom  teeth.  Sometimes 
the  lateral  incisors,  and  not  unfrequently  one  or  both  of  the  upper 
canine  teeth,  are  found  wanting  ; the  protrusion  of  the  dentes  sa- 
pientiae,  at  times,  does  not  take  place  till  the  fortieth  year,  and,  in 
some  instances,  not  even  then. 

There  are  cases  recorded  of  persons  never  having  any  teeth  ; one 
case  of  this  kind  has  come  under  my  own  observation,  and  in  that 
instance  the  gums  were  sufficiently  callous  to  answer  every  purpose 
of  mastication.  I have  frequently  been  informed  that  there  is  a 
family  living  in  South  Carolina,  several  members  of  which  have  no 
teeth,  where  the  processes  and  gums  are  so  perfectly  well  formed 
and  elongated,  as  to  make  the  defect  hardly  perceptible. 

The  removal  of  the  temporary  teeth  is  a curious  operation  of  na- 
ture. The  fangs  being  absorbed,  they  loosen  by  degrees,  and  are 
8 


5S 


APPENDIX. 


pushed  from  their  situations  by  the  pressure  of  the  second  set.  But 
there  are  instances  in  which  this  absorption  does  not  take  place,  and, 
consequently,  the  second  set  not  being  permitted  to  come  forward  in 
their  proper  places,  become  irregular  and  deformed.  The  only 
means  of  preventing  this  irregularity  and  deformity,  is  timely  ex- 
traction. 


(12)  Should  meet  resistance  from  opposing  force > 

There  are  instances,  and  those  not  a few,  when  relief  can  be 
afforded  by  no  other  means  than  by  extraction ; for  this  operation  I 
prefer  the  improved  forceps,  in  all  cases  where  they  can  be  safely 
applied,  as  being  the  best  and  safest  instruments  that  can  be  used  ; 
but  if  the  tooth  is  so  much  decayed  as  to  render  it  likely  to  break 
where  the  points  of  the  forceps  embrace  the  tooth,  I uniformly  use  a 
small  key  instrument,  with  the  improvement  I made  on  it  many  years 
ago,  which  is  now  in  very  general  use,  in  England  and  in  this 
country. 

In  order  to  do  myself  justice,  I shall  here  make  a short  extract 
from  Mr.  Snell’s  work,  lately  published  in  London,  the  author  of 
which,  in  speaking  of  the  instrument,  forgot  to  make  mention  by 
whom  the  improvement  was  made.  “ The  moveable  bolster,”  says  he, 
“ when  in  apposition  to  the  gum,  retains  its  relative  situation,  and  the 
fulcrum  of  the  instrument  moves  upon  it ; this  I consider  one  of  the 
most  important  improvements  of  the  key  instrument ; its  superiority 
over  the  old  one  is  so  evident,  as  to  need  no  farther  explanation.” — 
(page  100.) 

On  the  subject  of  this  improvement,  Dr.  Thomas  Hare,  of  London, 
as  early  as  1821,  in  his  celebrated  treatise  on  the  “ Stomach  and 
Alimentary  Organs  of  the  human  body,”  thus  speaks : “ The  instru- 
ments hitherto  in  use  for  the  extraction  of  teeth,  have,  to  my  appre- 
hension, been  deficient  of  that  neatness  and  convenience  for  adapta- 
tion, which  every  operation  on  the  human  frame  so  justly  demands. 
Besides  his  finished  qualifications  as  a dentist,  therefore,  it  gives  me 
great  pleasure  to  notice  the  merits  of  Mr.  Eleazar  Parmly,  in  contriv- 
ing an  instrument,  admirable  for  its  simplicity,  which  completely  sets 
aside  these  obvious  disadvantages.”  (Pages  205,  296.  London 
Edition , 1821.) 

I make  the  following  extract  from  Mr.  Koecker’s  work,  to  show 
that  many  persons  have  an  unwarrantable  antipathy  to  extraction; 
and  that  parents  are  frequently  more  in  fault  than  their  children, 
when  resistance  is  made  to  the  necessary  performance  of  operations 
on  the  teeth.  A want  of  decision  on  the  part  of  parents,  often  sub- 
jects the  child  to  serious  injury,  and  the  operator  to  many  inconve- 
niences, not  the  least  of  which  is  loss  of  time,  which  might  be  wholly 
avoided,  if  parents  would  send  their  children  to  the  dentist  with 
directions  for  his  government,  or  submit  them  entirely  to  his 


APPENDIX. 


59 


management,  when  placed  in  his  hands  for  the  benefit  of  his  advice 
or  operations. 

It  is  the  case  of  a child  about  ten  years  of  age.  “ I discovered,” 
says  this  writer,  “ several  of  her  teeth  to  be  carious,  and  proposed  to 
remove  the  caries  with  a file,  and  to  extract  the  first  four  large 
grinders,  in  order  to  prevent  a recurrence  of  the  disease,  which  had 
arisen  from  some  irregularity  of  the  teeth,  owing  to  their  crowded 
state. 

“ The  poor  child  was  greatly  alarmed  at  this  advice.  Her  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  although  her  sisters,  who  were  more  familiar  with 
the  operation,  where  whispering  her  to  be  of  good  cheer.  The  affec- 
tionate mother  was  much  grieved  at  the  discovery,  and  the  struggle 
between  her  good  sense  on  the  one  hand,  and  her  parental  anxiety  on 
the  other,  was  so  affecting,  that  1 proposed  another  plan,  by  which  I 
should  be  able  to  save  all  the  teeth  of  her  daughter.  But  to  this 
proposal  she  would  not  consent,  declaring  that  she  was  convinced 
my  first  advice  was  the  best,  and  adding  that  she  and  her  daughter 
would  submit  to  the  operation  first  proposed  ; desiring  only,  a little 
time  for  preparation. 

“ About  a week  afterwards  the  little  girl  called  upon  me  in  excel- 
lent spirits  ; and  after  expressing  her  sorrow  for  not  having  submit- 
mitted  to  the  operation  immediately,  stated  that  her  reluctance  had 
principally  resulted  from  the  alarm  of  her  mother,  who  had  conti- 
nued, ever  since  I last  saw  her,  to  express  her  wish  that  the  operation 
should  be  performed,  but  had  not  courage  enough  to  agree  to  its  per- 
formance. She,  the  daughter,  therefore,  had  at  last  resolved  to  come 
to  me,  without  the  knowledge  of  her  mother  ; and  having  acquainted 
me  with  the  circumstances,  she  sat  down  with  sparkling  eyes  and  a 
smiling  countenance,  and  said,  4 Now,  if  you  please,  sir,  I am  ready  !’ 

“ I shall  not  attempt  to  describe  my  feelings  on  this  occasion  ; but 
merely  state,  that,  in  less  than  five  minutes,  the  four  permanent  first 
large  grinders,  the  largest  teeth  in  her  mouth,  were  wrapped  up  in  a 
piece  of  paper,  and  she  went  away  with  them  in  her  hand,  rather 
dancing  than  walking,  to  surprise  and  relieve  her  anxious  mother 
from  fear  and  apprehension. 

“ I leave  to  parents,  and  particularly  to  mothers,  to  judge  of  the 
mother’s  feelings  for  so  amiable  a daughter.” 

“ It  is  remarkable,”  says  Mr.  Fox,  “ but  not  less  true,  that  there  is 
scarcely  any  pain  to  which  the  human  body  is  subject,  that  is  so 
much  under  the  influence  of  fear  and  hope,  as  the  tooth-ache.  This 
is  experienced  by  almost  every  patient,  and  as  constantly  observed 
by  every  surgeon,  by  the  pain  generally  leaving  that  individual  who 
is  under  the  immediate  expectation  of  having  the  tooth  extracted. 

“ Empirics  are  not  wanting,  who  take  advantage  of  this  circum- 
stance, and  pretend  to  cure  tooth-ache  by  certain  charms  and  nos- 
trums : indeed,  at  the  moment,  they  appear  to  be  successful,  from 
the  passions  of  fear  or  hope  causing  a temporary  suspension  of  pain. 


60 


APPENDIX. 


“ The  burning  of  the  Antihelix  of  the  ear,  in  order  to  relieve  this 
complaint,  must  be  ranked  amongst  the  above  methods  of  cure  ; it  is 
one  not  worthy  of  notice,  had  it  not  been  formerly  a very  popular 
remedy,  and  lately  recommended  in  a periodical  publication. 

“ The  slightest  knowledge  of  the  distribution  of  the  nerves  to  the 
teeth  must  convince  every  one,  that  a division  of  any  part  of  the  ear 
cannot  separate  the  connexion  that  subsists  between  the  teeth  and  the 
principal  branches  that  go  to  the  brain  ; and,  therefore,  no  more  be- 
nefit can  be  derived  from  this  formidable  operation,  than  may  be  at- 
tributed to  the  influence  of  fear.”  ( Fox  on  Human  Teeth , Part  II., 
p.  38.) 


(13)  For  healthy  action  on  the  general  frame. 

If  we  may  judge  from  the  opinions  of  the  most  able  physicians 
and  surgeons,  it  is  evident  that  the  digestion  of  our  food  depends 
greatly  on  the  quantity  of  saliva  which  is  elicited  from  the  glands  and 
mingled  with  it,  and  to  its  being  properly  masticated  by  the  teeth, 
before  it  descends  into  the  stomach.  From  this  view  we  are  led  to 
consider  the  teeth  as  essential  instruments  in  preparing  our  food.  The 
front  teeth  are  intended  to  take  hold  of  and  divide  the  food,  and 
those  placed  back  in  the  jaws  to  grind  or  comminute  it,  in  which 
state  only  it  is  fit  to  pass  into  the  stomach. 

Digestion,  then,  is  performed  first  by  the  action  of  the  teeth,  dur- 
ing which  process  the  saliva  is  elicited  from  the  glands  in  order  to 
be  mixed  with  it,  and,  as  it  is  comminuted,  descends  into  the  sto- 
mach along  with  this  powerful  solvent,  for  its  assimilation.  It  is  there 
mixed  with  the  gastric  juice,  and  receives  the  other  changes  which 
convert  it  into  nutritive  matter. 

If  the  teeth,  then,  are  incapable  of  performing  their  office,  the 
process  of  digestion  must  be  imperfectly  carried  on,  and  the  health 
of  the  individual  suffer  in  proportion.  The  supply  of  nourishment 
to  the  system  is  the  first  and  great  function  of  life  ; and  the  health 
of  the  teeth,  so  essential  to  it,  cannot  claim  too  much  attention  from 
every  individual. 

(14)  Disgusting  objects  of  deformity  ! 

“ The  influence  which  the  teeth  exercise  over  beauty,  justifies  the 
pre-eminence  which  I attribute  to  them  over  all  the  other  attractions 
of  the  countenance.  This  ornament  is  equally  attractive  in  both 
sexes  : it  distinguishes  the  elegant  from  the  slovenly  gentleman,  and 
diffuses  amiability  over  the  countenance,  by  softening  the  features. 
But  it  is  more  especially  to  woman  that  fine  teeth  are  necessary, 
since  it  is  her  destiny  first  to  gratify  the  eyes  before  she  touches  the 
soul,  and  captivates  and  enslaves  the  heart.”  (Diet.  Sci.  Med.  Paris) 


APPENDIX. 


61 


(15)  And  spreads  delight  through  all  its  wide  domain . 

“ Some  idea  of  the  rapid  motion  of  the  blood  may  be  formed  from 
the  following  calculation:  the  heart  propels,  at  each  pulsation, about 
one  ounce  of  blood,  and  when  it  makes  eighty  pulsations  in  a minute, 
of  course  three  hundred  pounds  of  blood  must  pass  through  it  in  an 
hour,  which  is  about  twelve  times  the  whole  mass  of  blood  in  the 
body  ; and  this  rapid  action  is  incessantly  going  on,  night  and  day, 
through  life.”  (fuller  on  the  Teeth , p.  47.) 

(16)  And  hence , defective , only  from  abuse . 

“ The  following  is  the  composition  of  the  teeth,  as  given  by  Ber- 
zelius, whose  analysis  appears  to  have  been  more  elaborate  than  that 
of  any  other  chemist.  It  will  be  found  to  record  the  occurrence  of 
several  substances  as  existing  in  the  bone  and  enamel  of  the  teeth, 
the  presence  of  which  has  not  been  detected  by  others.  According 
to  this  celebrated  chemist,  the  enamel  of  the  adult  teeth  contains,  in 
one  hundred  parts: — 


“Phosphate  of  lime 85.3 

Fluate  of  lime 3.2 

Carbonate  of  lime 8 

Phosphate  of  magnesia  ....  1,5 

Soda  and  muriate  of  soda  ...  1 

Animal  matter  and  water  ...  1 


100 

“ The  bony  substance  is  stated,  by  the  same  authority,  to  con* 


tain : — 

“ Phosphate  of  lime 62 

Fluate  of  lime 2 

Carbonate  of  lime 5.5 

Phosphate  of  magnesia  ....  1 

Soda  and  muriate  of  soda  ...  1.5 

Gelatine  and  water 28 


100” 

(Bell  on  the  Teeth , pp.  6,  7.) 

(17)  Assigned  these  organs  in  the  frame  of  man . 

“ The  teeth,  which  are  the  only  hardened  parts  of  the  animal 
frame  exposed  to  the  influence  of  air,  to  the  influence  of  invasive 


62 


APPENDIX. 


fluids,  or  called  upon  to  exercise  any  sort  of  mechanical  power 
without  the  intervention  of  membranous  or  other  protection,  and 
without  the  aid  of  lubricating  fluid  proper  to  themselves,  or  being 
placed  beyond  the  mutilating  influence  of  chemical  agents,  are  of  a 
more  dense,  refined,  and  minute  crystalline  texture  externally,  than 
any  other  of  its  objects ; but  this  natural  advantage  of  texture  has 
become  progressively  lessened  with  the  advancement  of  civilization.” 
( Hare  on  the  Stomach,  p.  51.) 

To  the  foregoing  remarks  of  my  distinguished  friend,  I will  add, 
that  the  teeth  are  the  hardest  and  most  compact  parts  of  the  human 
frame,  as  is  evident  from  their  being  found  after  interment  in  a per- 
fect condition,  after  all  the  other  bones  have  mouldered  away. — 
Hence  we  may  reasonably  conclude,  that,  from  their  formation,  they 
are  little  liable  to  decay  ; and  that  the  inattention  of  the  individual, 
and  the  action  of  extraneous  matter  upon  them,  are  the  chief  causes 
of  those  diseases  with  which  they  are  oftentimes  affected. 

Though  to  a superficial  observer  the  teeth  may  appear  to  be  a part 
of  the  body  which  is  little  deserving  of  regard,  yet,  those  who  consi- 
der the  many  functions  which  the  teeth  have  to  perform,  must  allow 
that  their  claims  on  our  attention  are  as  many  and  as  strong  as  those 
of  any  other  part  of  the  human  frame.  Those  means  should  be 
studied,  therefore,  which  tend  to  preserve  them  in  their  original  per- 
fection ; and  every  argument  used,  to  impress  upon  the  attention  of 
society  at  large  the  importance  of  resorting  to  those  means,  when- 
ever circumstances  may  require  their  aid. 

(18)  A greedy  campy  re,  feasting  on  his  heart ! 

" The  Brazilians,  when  first  discovered  by  the  Europeans,  lived  the 
most  natural,  original  lives  of  mankind,  so  frequently  described  in 
ancient  countries,  before  laws,  or  property,  or  arts  made  entrance 
among  them  ; they  lived  without  labor,  farther  than  for  their  neces- 
sary food,  by  gathering  fruits,  herbs,  and  plants  ; they  knew  no  drink 
but  water ; were  not  tempted  to  eat  or  drink  beyond  common  thirst 
or  appetite  ; were  not  troubled  with  either  public  or  domestic  cares, 
nor  knew  any  pleasure  but  the  most  simple  and  natural.”  (Sir  John 
Sinclair’s  Code  of  Health , Vol.  IV.  p.  333.) 

“ The  chief  food  of  the  Japanese  is  rice,  pulse,  fruits,  roots,  and 
herbs ; but  mostly  rice,  which  they  have  in  great  plenty  and  perfec- 
tion, and  dress  in  so  many  different  ways,  and  give  to  it  such  variety 
of  tastes,  flavor,  and  color,  that  a stranger  would  hardly  know  what 
he  was  eating.”  (Mod.  Universal  History , Vol.  IX.  p.  62.) 

“ The  philosophers  of  India  eat  nothing  but  rice,  fruits,  and  herbs.” 
(Bartolomeo’s  Voyages,  hy  Johnson,  p.  287.) 

“ The  four  most  ancient  orders  of  priests,  the  Rahans,  the  Bramins, 
the  Magi,  and  the  Druids,  confined  themselves  to  vegetable  food,  as 


APPENDIX. 


63 


did  also  the  Athenian  prince.  Triptolemus,  who  established  the  Eleu- 
sinian  mysteries,  and  prohibited  by  law  all  injury  to  animals. 
{Monthly  Magazine , February , 1812,  p.  21.) 

Jf  it  should  be  deemed  necessary  to  explain  my  motives  for  any 
seeming  digression  from  my  subject,  in  introducing  matter  that  will 
no  doubt  be  considered  by  some  as  wholly  unconnected  with  the 
duties  of  a practical  dentist,  I would  say,  that  it  is  my  settled  opi- 
nion, that  whatever  affects  the  general  condition  of  the  system,  must* 
in  a greater  or  less  degree,  affect  the  health  of  the  teeth. 

I have  myself  suffered  much,  in  former  years,  from  debility  and 
other  forms  of  indisposition,  induced,  1 am  persuaded,  by  gross  and 
improper  diet.  For  the  last  year  I have  abstained  from  all  exciting 
drinks,  have  utterly  relinquished  the  use  of  tea  and  coffee,  have  ab- 
stained from  animal  food  of  every  name  and  nature,  and  bv  this 
course  of  conduct  have  found  my  health  to  be  so  much  benefited, 
that  1 feel  it  a duty  as  well  as  a pleasure,  to  endeavor  to  impress 
upon  the  reader  the  necessity  of  living  more  frugally,  if  he  wish  to 
enjoy  that  health  of  body  and  that  tranquillity  of  mind  which  none 
can  enjoy,  for  any  great  length  of  time,  but  such  as  live  in  accordance 
with  the" rules  prescribed  by  all  profound  philosophers,  both  of  an- 
cient and  modern  times 

On  this  subject,  and  for  the  foregoing  reasons,  I have  selected  such 
passages  from  various  distinguished  authors  as  I have  found  true  by 
experience,  in  the  hope  that  this  cloud  of  witnesses  in  behalf  of  tem- 
perance, health,  and  happiness,  may  influence  some  of  my  readers  to 
sacrifice  at  least  one  debasing  appetite  on  the  altar  of  truth  and 
reason. 


(19)  Compared , intemperate  luxury ! with  thine. 

“ The  throat  has  destroyed  more  than  the  sword.” 

Martial. 

" The  nations  that  subsist  on  vegetable  diet  are  of  all  men  the 
handsomest,  the  most  robust,  the  least  exposed  to  diseases  and  vio- 
lent passions ; and  they  attain  the  greatest  longevity.  The  Bramins 
of  India,  who  frequently  survive  a century,  eat  nothing  but  vegeta- 
bles. From  the  Pythagorean  school,  Epaminondas  issued  forth,  so 
renowned  for  his  virtues  ; Archytas,  so  celebrated  for  his  skill  in  me- 
chanics ; and  Milo  of  Crotona,  for  his  strength.  As  vegetable  diet 
has  a necessary  connexion  with  many  virtues,  and  excludes  none,  it 
must  be  of  importance  to  accustom  young  people  to  it,  seeing  its  in- 
fluence so  powerfully  contributes  to  beauty  of  person  and  tranquillity 
of  soul.  The  children  of  the  Persians,  in  the  time  of  Cyrus,  and 
by  his  orders,  were  fed  with  bread,  water,  and  cresses  ; and  Lycur- 
gus  introduced  a considerable  part  of  the  physicial  and  moral  regi- 
men of  these  children  into  the  education  of  those  of  Lacedaemon* 
Such  diet  prolongs  infancy,  and,  of  course,  the  duration  of  human 
life.”  {Bernardin  de  St.  Pierre’s  Studies  of  Nature.  Yob  IV.  p 357.) 


64 


APPENDIX. 


“ As,  in  every  period  of  history,  it  has  been  known,  that  fruit  and 
vegetables  alone  are  sufficient  for  the  support  of  life,  and  that  the  bulk 
of  mankind  live  upon  them  at  this  hour ; the  adherence  to  the  use  of 
animal  food  is  no  more  than  a persistance  in  the  gross  customs  of  sa- 
vage life — and  evinces  an  insensibility  to  the  progress  of  reason,  and  to 
the  operation  of  intellectual  improvements.”  (Dr.  Lambe  on  Regimen., 
p.  243.) 

“ The  circumstance  of  weighing  down  the  stomach  with  a load 
of  food,  particularly  where  relaxation  of  the  general  fibre  is  favored 
by  inactive  habits,  must  tend  by  degrees  to  increase  its  capaciousness ; 
and  in  proportion  as  this  increases,  the  energies  of  the  brain  and  of 
all  the  organs  of  sense  become  diminished  ; the  sight,  the  hearing, 
and  the  smell,  are  less  exquisitely  acute  ; the  palate  is  not  satisfied 
with  simple  viands  ; and  even  the  sense  of  touch  is  rendered  less 
nice. 

“ It  was  well  observed  by  the  late  Dr.  Saunders,  that  we  are  made 
gluttons  from  the  cradle  by  the  officiousness  of  our  nurses  ; a child’s 
health  is  disordered  by  being  over  fed ; it  cries  and  complains  from 
the  effects,  and  with  a view  to  silence  it,  more  and  more  food  is  given, 
so  that  the  evil  is  increased  instead  of  remedied,  and  the  capacity  of 
the  stomach  gradually  extended  far  beyond  the  salutary  bounds  of 
nature.”  ( Hare  on  the  Stomach , p.  134.) 

(20)  And  drains  destruction  from  the  circling  glass . 

“ A vulgar  error  prevails,  which  is,  that  strong  liquors  are  essential 
to  bodily  strength.  This  false  opinion  is  partly  grounded  on  the 
idea  of  a nutritious  property  in  those  liquors,  and  partly,  perhaps,  in 
a logical  error  in  using  the  word  strong,  as  being  necessarily  con- 
nected with  strengthening  the  animal  body.  The  first  notion  is  en- 
tirely wrong ; since  it  is  proved,  by  continual  evidence  that  strong 
liquors  are  inimical  to  animal  life  throughout  the  creation,  and  that 
no  living  animal  or  plant  can  be  supported  by  such  fluids ; but  that, 
on  the  contrary,  they  all  become  sickly  and  perish  under  their  in- 
fluence. I presume  that  no  person  would  give  a iamb,  a calf,  a 
chicken,  or  a duck,  such  liquors,  with  a hope  of  rendering  them 
sooner  fat,  and  of  sweeter  flesh,  even  if  such  liquors  were  so 
cheap  as  to  render  it  an  economical  process.  Yet  many  parents  do 
this  to  their  infant  children  ! The  fate  of  those  individuals  is  truly 
deplorable,  who  cannot  exist  without  an  exhausting  stimulus.”  ( Sir 
Anthony  Carlisle's  Lectures  on  fermented  liquors .) 

Dr.  Rush  observes,  that,  “ since  the  introduction  of  spirituous  li- 
quors into  such  general  use,  physicians  have  remarked  that  a number 
of  new  diseases  have  appeared  among  us,  and  have  described  many 
new  symptoms  as  common  to  old  diseases.  Spirits,  in  their  first  ope- 
ration, are  stimulating  upon  the  system.  They  quicken  the  circula- 
tion of  the  blood,  and  produce  some  heat  in  the  body.  Soon  after 


APPENDIX. 


65 


they  become  what  is  called  sedative  ; that  is,  they  diminish  the  action 
of  the  vital  powers,  and  thereby  produce  languor  and  weakness.” 

(21)  Crcwns  high  the  heard ; for  this  the  herd  has  hied . 

“ Dr.  Alphonsus  Lercy,  of  Paris,  has  published  an  essay  on  cer- 
tain diseases  of  men,  which  he  traces  to  the  animals  on  which  they 
had  fed  ; and  he  establishes  the  doctrine  generally,  that  many  dis- 
eases with  which  mankind  are  afflicted,  are  communicated  by  eating 
the  flesh  of  animals.”  (Monthly  Magazine,  June  1815,  p.  446.) 

“ The  late  Sir  Edward  Barry  prevailed  with  a man  to  live  on 
partridges,  without  vegetables ; but  after  eight  days’  trial  he  was 
obliged  to  desist,  in  consequence  of  strong  symptoms  then  appearing 
of  an  incipient  putrefaction.”  ( Sir  J.  Sinclair's  Code  of  Health , Vol. 
I.  p.  425.) 

“ The  use  of  swine’s  flesh,  in  union  with  ardent  spirits,  is,  in  all 
likelihood,  the  grand  cause  of  the  scurvy,  which  is  so  common  in  the 
British  nation,  and  which  would  probably  assume  the  form  and  viru- 
lence of  a leprosy,  were  our  climate  as  hot  as  that  of  Judea.”  (Dr. 
Adam  Clarke.) 

“ It  is  a remarkable  fact,  that  at  Heimaey,  the  only  one  of  the 
Westmann  islands  which  is  inhabited,  scarcely  a single  instance  has 
been  known,  during  the  last  twenty  years,  of  a child  surviving  the 
period  of  infancy.  In  consequence,  the  population,  which  does  not 
exceed  two  hundred  souls,  is  entirely  kept  up  by  emigration  from  the 
main  land  of  Iceland.  The  food  of  this  people  consists  principally 
of  sea-birds,  fulmars,  and  puffins.  The  fulmars  they  procure  in  vast 
abundance  ; and  they  use  the  eggs  and  flesh  of  the  birds,  and  salt 
the  latter  for  their  winter  food.  There  are  a few  cows  and  sheep  on 
the  island,  but  the  inhabitants  are  said  to  have  no  vegetable  food.” — 
{Dr.  Lamhe’s  Reports  on  Regimen , p.  197.) 

“ In  ancient  times,  the  medicines  of  the  Indians  consisted  chiefly, 
according  to  Strabo,  in  regularity,  temperance,  and  a choice  of 
food.”  (Bartolomeo,  by  Johnson,  p.  423.) 

“ The  man  who  forsakes  not  the  law,  and  eats  not  flesh  meat,  like 
a blood  thirsty  demon,  shall  attain  good  will  in  this  world,  and  shall 
not  be  afflicted  with  maladies.”  ( Laws  of  Menu , from  Sir  William 
Jones , Vol.  III.  p.  206.) 

“ Happy  the  man,  who,  studying  nature’s  laws, 

Through  known  effects  can  trace  the  secret  cause  : — 

He  feeds  on  fruits,  which  of  their  own  accord, 

The  willing  ground  and  laden  trees  afford  : — 

Simple  his  beverage,  homely  is  his  food, 

The  wholesome  herbage,  and  the  running  flood.” 

{Dry den' s Virgil , Georg.  II.  1.  698. — III.  1.  790.) 

“ The  moral  effect  of  aliment  is  clearly  evinced  in  the  different 
tempers  of  the  carnivorous  and  the  frugivorous  animals.  The  former, 


66 


APPENDIX. 


whose  destructive  passions,  like  those  of  ignorant  man,  lay  waste  all 
within  their  reach,  are  constantly  tormented  with  hunger,  which  re- 
turns and  rages  in  proportion  to  their  devastation;  this  creates  that 
state  of  warfare  or  disquietude  which  seeks,  as  in  murderers,  the 
night  and  the  veil  of  the  forest ; for  should  they  appear  on  the  plain, 
their  prey  escapes,  or,  seen  by  each  other,  their  warfare  begins. — 
The  frugivorous  animals  wander  tranquilly  on  the  plains,  and  testify 
their  joyful  existence  by  frisking  and  basking  in  the  genial  rays  of 
the  sun,  or  browsing  with  pleasure  on  the  green  herb.  The  same 
effect  of  aliment  is  discernible  amongst  the  different  species  of  men  ; 
the  peaceful  temper  of  the  frugivorous  Asiatic  is  strongly  contrasted 
with  the  ferocious  disposition  of  the  carnivorous  European.”  (Jean 
Jacques  Rousseau.) 

“The  man  who  sheds  the  blood  of  an  ox  or  sheep,  will  be  habi- 
tuated more  easily  than  another  to  witness  the  effusion  of  that  of  his 
fellow  men.;  inhumanity  takes  possession  of  his  soul ; and  the  pro- 
fessions whose  object  is  to  sacrifice  animals  for  the  purpose  of  sup- 
plying the  supposed  necessities  of  men,  impart  to  those  who  exer- 
cise them,  a ferocity  which  their  relative  connexions  with  society  but 
imperfectly  serve  to  mitigate.”  (Encyclopedic  Methodique.  Tome 
VII.  hart.  1.  liv.  65.) 

“ India,  in  fact,  of  all  the  regions  of  the  earth,  is  the  only  public 
theatre  of  justice  and  tenderness  to  brutes,  and  all  living  creatures  ; 
for  there,  not  confining  murder  to  the  killing  of  man,  they  religiously 
abstain  from  taking  the  life  of  the  meanest  animal. ” (Ovington’s 
Voyage  to  Surat , p.  296.) 

“The  Gentoos  rear  numerous  herds  of  cattle ; but  such  is  their 
veneration  for  these  animals,  on  account  of  their  useful  and  patient 
services  to  man,  that  to  kill,  or  even  maim  one  of  them,  is  deemed  a 
capital  offence.”  (M.  de  Page’s  Travels , Vol.  II.  p.  27.) 

“ Among  the  W allachians,  though  there  is  no  positive  institution  to 
the  contrary,  yet  the  women  never  destroy  the  life  of  any  creature. 
Whether  this  custom  were  founded  by  some  of  their  ancient  legisla- 
tors, or  whether  it  originated  from  accidental  circumstances,  is  un- 
certain ; but  however  that  be,  nothing  can  be  more  suitable  to  the 
gentleness  and  timidity  which  form  the  most  beautiful  and  engaging 
part  of  the  female  character.”  (Dr.  Alexander’s  History  of  Women , 
Vol.  I.  p.  366.) 

“ The  Indian  Bramins  neither  kill  nor  eat  any  sort  of  animal ; 
and  it  is  certain  they  have  not  done  it  for  more  than  two  thousand 
years.”  (Dr.  Clarke’s  Fleury , p.  87.) 

“As  a proof  of  the  havoc  committed  by  more  savage  man  on  the  crea- 
tures of  his  prey,  it  is  said,  that  in  Paris  there  are  four  thousand  sellers 
of  oysters,  and  that  fifteen  hund.-d  large  oxen,  and  above  sixteen  thou- 
sand sheep,  calves,  or  hogs,  besides  a prodigious  quantity  of  poultry 
and  wild  fowls,  are  eaten  daily.”  (Bayle’s  Dictionary. — Art.  Ovid.) 

“ When  children  are  barbarous  towards  innocent  animals,  they  will 
soon  become  the  same  towards  men.  Caligula,  before  imbruing  his 


APPENDIX. 


67 


hands  in  human  blood,  had  made  a practice  of  destroying  flies.  It 
may  be  said,  that  the  moral  behavior  of  man  to  man  commences,  in 
some  measure,  with  that  of  an  infant  towards  insects.  Never,  there- 
fore, let  a child  acquire  a truth  by  means  ol  a vice;  nor  extend  its 
understanding  at  the  expense  of  its  heart.  Let  it  not  study  the  laws 
of  nature  in  the  pangs  of  sentient  beings ; but  rather  in  the  succession 
of  their  enjoyments.”  (St.  Pierre's  Harmonies  of  Nature , Yol.  I.  p. 
411.) 

The  celebrated  Mr.  John  Tweddell,  in  one  of  his  letters,  thus 
beautifully  expresses  himself : — “ I no  longer  eat  flesh  meat,  nor  drink 
fermented  liquors.  As  for  the  latter,  it  is  merely  because  1 do  not  be- 
lieve that  they  can  ever  be  good  for  the  constitution,  and  still  more  es 
pecially  with  a vegetable  diet.  W ith  regard  to  the  flesh  of  animals,  I 
have  many  times  thought  on  the  subject.  I am  persuaded  we  have 
no  other  right  than  the  right  of  the  strongest,  to  sacrifice  to  our 
monstrous  appetites  the  bodies  of  living  things,  of  whose  qualities 
and  relations  we  are  ignorant.  Different  objections  which  struck 
me,  as  to  the  probability  of  good  from  the  universality  of  this  prac- 
tice, have  hitherto  held  me  in  indecision. 

“ I doubted  whether,  if  this  abstinence  were  universal,  the  animals 
which  we  now  devour  might  not  devour,  in  their  turn,  the  fruits  and 
vegetables  reserved  for  our  sustenance.  I do  not  know  whether  this 
would  be  so ; but  I do  not  believe  it : it  seems  to  me  that  their  num- 
bers would  not  augment  in  the  proportion  wh.ch  is  apprehended.  If, 
on  the  one  hand,  we  now  consume  them  with  our  teeth,  on  the  other, 
we  might  then  abandon  our  schemes  and  inventions  for  augmenting 
the  means  of  propagation.  Let  nature  follow  her  own  course  with 
regard  to  all  that  lives.  I am  told  that  they  would  destroy  each 
other : — In  the  first  place,  the  two  objections  cannot  exist  together  : 
if  they  would  destroy  each  other,  their  numbers  would  not  be  ex- 
cessive. And  what  is  this  mutual  destruction  to  me?  Who  has 
constituted  me  dictator  of  the  realms  of  nature  ? Why  am  I umpire 
between  the  mistress  and  her  servants  ? Because  two  chickens  fight 
till  one  dies,  am  I obliged  to  worry  one  ot  them  to  prevent  the  en- 
gagement? Exquisite  and  well  imagined  humanity! 

“ On  the  other  hand,  let  precautions  be  adopted  against  fanrne, 
when  experience  shall  have  shown  the  necessity  of  them  ; in  the 
mean  while,  we  are  not  called  upon  to  bury  in  our  bowels  the  carcas- 
ses of  animals,  which,  a few  hours  before,  lowed  or  bleated ; to  flay 
and  to  dismember  a defenceless  creature  ; to  pamper  the  unsuspect- 
ing beast  that  grazes  before  us,  with  the  single  view  of  sucking  its 
blood  and  grinding  its  bones  ; and  to  become  the  unnatural  murderers 
of  beings,  of  whose  powers  and  faculties,  of  whose  modes  of  com- 
munication and  mutual  intercourse,  of  whose  degree  of  sensibility 
and  extent  of  pain  and  pleasure,  we  are  necessarily  and  funda- 
mentally ignorant.”  (Life  and  Remains  of  J.  Tweddeilt  p.  215.) 


68 


APPENDIX. 


(22)  Suspend  forever  all  their  songs  of  lorn  f 


“Abstinence,”  says  Shelley,  “from  animal  food,  subtilizes  and  clears 
the  intellectual  faculties.”  For  all  the  sensualities  of  the  table  he 
had  an  ineffable  contempt,  and,  like  Newton,  used  sometimes  to  ask 
if  he  had  dined.  ( Vide  Life  of  Shelley.) 

M So  many  dishes,  so  many  disorders.” 

Seneca. 

“ Well  observe 

The  rule  of  not  too  much,  by  temperance  taught, 

In  what  thou  eat’st  and  drink’st ; seeking  from  thence 
Due  nourishment,  not  gluttonous  delight.” 

Milton. 

“ By  salt,  Cayenne  pepper,  and  other  high  seasonings,  they  stimu- 
late the  appetite,  turn  round  the  wheels  of  life  too.  rapidly,  and  wear 
out  the  body,  or  machine,  before  its  time ; whereas,  those  who  ab- 
stain from  such  wine,  spirituous  liquors,  and  hot  spicy  aliments,  ac- 
quire an  exquisite  degree  of  delicacy  in  the  sense  of  lasting;  their 
spirits  are  more  equal,  their  feelings  more  pleasurable,  and,  generally, 
they  are  much  longer  lived.”  {Dr.  Abernethy.) 

“ Temperanee  and  exercise  are  the  parents  of  health.” 

Mason, 


The  common  ingredients  of  health  and  long  life  are 


“ Great  temperance — open  air, 
Easy  labor,  and  little  care.” 


Anon. 


“ It  appears  that  the  structure  and  uses  of  the  teeth  are  more  per- 
fectly equalized  in  the  human  subject,  than  in  any  other  animal.  It 
is  true  that,  in  some  tribes  of  animals,  whose  habits  require  the  great- 
est possible  extension  of  the  office  of  a particular  class  of  the  teeth, 
a corresponding  development  of  that  class  is  found  to  take  place,  to 
a much  greater  degree  than  in  man. 

“ Thus,  in  the  carnivora , the  cuspidati  are  greatly  elongated  and 
strengthened,  in  order  to  enable  them  to  seize  their  food  and  to  tear 
it  in  pieces  ; in  the  rodentia,  or  gnawing  animals,  as  in  the  beaver, 
for  instance,  the  incisors  are  remat  kably  long,  and  exhibit  that  extra- 
ordinary development  which  their  peculiar  habits  demand,  and  in  the 
graminivorous  animals,  the  ruminaniia  especially,  the  molares  are 
found  to  occupy  the  most  conspicuous  situation.  But,  in  each  of 
these  instances,  the  other  kinds  of  teeth  are  found  to  be  proportion- 
ably  of  less  importance,  and  in  some  cases,  are  actually  wanting.  In 
man,  on  the  contrary,  every  class  appears  to  be  equally  developed, 
to  a moderate,  though  a sufficient  degree,  and  to  exhibit  a perfection 


APPENDIX. 


69 


of  structure  which  may  be  considered  as  being  the  true  type,  from 
which  all  other  forms  are  mere  deviations.  It  becomes,  therefore,  a 
question  of  some  interest,  and  perhaps  of  no  less  difficulty,  to  what 
food  the  structure  which  has  just  been  demonstrated  is  particularly 
adapted.  The  opinion  which  I venture  to  give  has  not  been  hastily 
formed,  nor  without  what  appeared  to  me  sufficient  grounds  ; I ad- 
vance it,  however,  with  diffidence,  and  do  not  profess  to  consider  it 
much  more  than  hypothetical. 

“ The  endowment  of  reason,  that  greatest,  best  gift  of  the  Creator, 
appears,  if  we  consider  the  perfection  of  human  organization,  to  be 
particularly,  and,  in  its  highest  degree,  even  exclusively,  adapted  to 
the  conformation  and  requirements  of  man.  This  high  and  divine 
endowment  should  never  be  lost  sight  of  in  our  reasonings  on  the  hu- 
man structure,  and  the  physiology  and  habits  of  our  species,  as  it  is 
only  with  the  allowances  and  modificafions  which  the  possession  of  a 
quality  so  infinitely  higher  than  the  instinct  of  other  animals  necessa- 
rily supposes,  that  the  actual  habits  of  man  can  be  viewed  as  com- 
patible with  his  organization.  Although  these  habits,  now  essentially 
arising  from,  and  combined  with  a state  of  civilization,  wdiich,  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  must  be  allowed  to  exist  in  every  known 
tribe  of  our  species,  cannot  be  considered,  in  any  one  instance,  as 
actual  and  exclusively  natural;  yet  we  may  be  led,  by  a careful 
examination  of  the  structure  of  the  different  organs,  and  by  an  ana” 
logical  comparison  of  them,  as  they  exist  in  man,  with  the  same  or- 
gans in  those  animals  which  most  nearly  resemble  him  in  structure, 
but  which  are  still  found  in  a perfectly  natural  state,  to  a plausible 
supposition,  at  least,  of  what  were  originally  his  natural  habits ; and 
which  would  have  still  continued  so,  but  for  those  changes  which 
have  arisen  from  the  possession  of  this  very  endowment. 

“ With  this  view  of  the  subject,  it  is  not,  I think,  going  too  far  to 
say,  that  every  fact  connected  with  the  human  organization  goes  to 
prove,  that  man  was  originally  formed  a frugivorous  animal,  and 
therefore  probably  tropical,  or  nearly  so,  with  regard  to  his  geographi- 
cal situation.  This  opinion  is  principally  derived  from  the  formation 
of  his  teeth  and  digestive  organs,  as  wTell  as  from  the  character  of 
his  skin,  and  the  general  structure  of  his  limbs.  3t  is  not  my  inten- 
tion now  to  go  farther  into  the  discussion  of  this  subject  than  to  ob- 
serve, that  if  analogy  be  allowed  to  have  any  weight  in  the  argument, 
it  is  wholly  on  that  side  of  the  question  which  I have  just  taken. — 
Those  animals  whose  teeth  and  digestive  apparatus  most  nearly  re- 
semble our  own,  namely,  the  apes  and  monkeys,  are  undoubtedly 
frugivorous ; but  as,  from  their  organization,  they  are  necessarily 
tropical  animals,  and  without  the  gift  of  reason,  by  which  they  might 
have  overcome  the  difference  of  temperature  by  artificial  means, 
they  remain  still  restricted  to  their  original  food,  and  confined  to  the 
very  limited  climate  to  which  their  structure  peculiarly  adap- 
ted them.  The  reasoning  powers  of  man,  on  the  contrary,  have 


70 


APPENDIX. 


enabled  him  to  set  climate  at  defiance,  and  have  rendered  him,  in  all 
cases,  more  or  less  an  artificial  being.  No  longer  restrained  within 
that  range  of  temperature  to  which  the  delicacy  of  his  frame,  no 
less  than  the  nature  of  his  original  nutriment  would  have  confined 
him,  he  becomes  the  denizen  of  every  climate,  and  the  lord  of  ter- 
restrial creation.”  ( Bell  on  the  Teeth , pp.  33 — 36.) 

(23)  Of  bloody  banquet  for  the  monster — man  ! 


“ Temperance,  cleanliness,  and  abstinence,  have  greater  power 
over  the  soul  and  body  than  most  in  our  days  imagine.  Some  of  the 
ancients  have  delivered  it  as  a maxim,  4 That  none  could  understand 
God  and  his  works,  and  enjoy  perfect  health  and  long  life,  but  those 
that  abstain  from  flesh,  wine,  and  vices,  bounding  their  desires  accor- 
ding to  the  ends  and  necessities  of  nature.’  Most  men  will  in 
words  confess,  that  there  is  no  blessing  this  world  affords  comparable 
to  health,  yet  rarely  do  any  of  them  value  it  as  they  ought  to  do, 
till  they  feel  the  want  of  it.  To  him  that  has  obtained  this  goodly 
gift,  the  meanest  food,  even  bread  and  water,  are  most  pleasant,  and 
all  sorts  of  labor  and  exercise  delightful.  But  the  contrary  makes  all 
things  nauseous  and  distasteful.  What  are  full-spread  tables,  riches, 
and  honors,  to  him  that  is  tormented  with  distempers  ? Happy  it 
were,  if  men  did  but  use  the  tenth  part  of  the  care  and  diligence  to  per- 
serve  their  minds  and  bodies  in  health,  as  they  do  to  procure  riches, 
which  serve  them  chiefly  to  procure  those  dainties  and  superfluities 
which  generate  disease,  and  are  the  causes  of  many  other  evils,  there 
being  but  few  men  that  know  how  to  use  riches  as  they  ought.  As 
little  and  as  mean  food  and  drink, .will  maintain  a lord  in  perfect  health 
as  the  poorest  peasant.  But,  alas  ! the  momentary  pleasures  of  the 
appetite  entice  most  people  to  exceed  the  bounds  of  necessity  or  con- 
venience, and  many  are  seduced  by  a false  opinion  of  nature,  child- 
ishly imagining  that  the  richer  the  food,  and  the  more  they  consume, 
the  more  they  shall  be  strengthened  thereby.  But  experience  proves 
the  reverse  ; for  the  persons  who  accustom  themselves  to  the  richest 
compound  food,  and  most  cordial  drinks,  are  uniformly  the  most  infirm 
and  diseased.  People  much  mistake  in  supposing,  that,  so  long  as 
the  appetite  desires  and  the  pleasure  of  eating  continues  strong,  they 
may  eat  on  without  damage  to  their  health.  The  truth  is,  this  is  one 
of  the  chief  reasons  why  men  are  gluttons  ; and  there  is  little  difficul- 
ty intemperance,  save  only  in  this  particular;  it  being  somewhat 
hard  for  a healthy  man  to  give  off  eating  in  the  midst  of  the  pleasure 
he  receives  by  it,  especially  when  meats  by  art  are  made  on  purpose, 
not  only  to  prolong  the  appetite,  but  also  to  delight  it.  Varieties  of 
food  are  always  dangerous,  if  great  care  and  temperance  be  not  ob- 
served. He  that  limits  his  desire  by  wisdom,  and  has  the  understan- 
ding both  of  the  quality  and  the  quantity,  may  eat  of  sundry  sorts  of 


APPENDIX. 


71 


food  at  once  ; but  the  ignorant  and  unwise  very  rarely  do  it  without 
prejudice  to  their  health.”  ( Tnjon’s  Way  to  Health , Long  Life , and 
Happiness , London , 1691,  pp.  41,  42,  43.) 

The  same  very  ingenious  writer  remarks,  page  137,  “ If  you  will 
be  so  habituated  and  wedded  to  your  unhealthy  customs,  that  you, 
ask  not  whether  nature  be  weak  and  impotent,  then  you  may  mix 
your  food  with  all  the  varieties  that  the  East  and  West  Indies  pro- 
duce ; you  may  make  your  drink  as  strong  and  cordial  as  you  wish  ; 
you  may  wrap  yourselves  at  night  in  beds  of  down  ; and  when  it.  is 
nine  or  ten  o’clock  in  the  morning,  look  that  you  have  a good,  rousing 
fire  in  your  chambers,  and  breakfast  ready  ; and  two  or  three  hours 
afterwards,  let  a plentiful  dinner  of  varieties  be  made  ready,  with 
strong  and  inflaming  liquors.  This  is  the  trade  that  many  thousands 
of  this  nation  pursue,  as  if  they  studied  to  bring  diseases  upon  them- 
selves, and  dig  their  graves  with  their  own  teeth  ; for,  in  the  midst  of 
all  their  affluence,  wherein  they  esteem  themselves  happy,  they  are 
yet  most  miserable.” 

(24)  The  safe  and  luscious  diet  of  mankind. 

Of  all  the  forms  of  vegetable  matter  proper  to  this  climate,  the 
farinaceous  grains  are  undoubtedly  the  most  important  ; but  in  mak- 
ing them  into  bread,  the  following  rules  from  Try  on  should  be  well 
observed  ; — and  his  advice  will  be  found  to  have  lost  none  of  its 
value  by  coming  from  a writer  in  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary. 

“ If  you  set  any  value  on  health,  and  have  a mind  to  preserve  na- 
ture, you  must  not  separate  the  finest  from  the  coarsest  flour,  be- 
cause that  which  is  fine  is  naturally  of  an  obstructive  quality  ; but, 
on  the  contrary,  the  other,  which  is  coarse,  is  of  a cleansing  and 
opening  nature  ; therefore,  that  bread  is  best  which  is  made  of  both 
together.  In  the  inward  bean  and  skin  of  the  wheat  is  contained  an 
oily  quality,  of  a sweet  nature,  by  reason  whereof,  bread  made  of 
fine  and  coarse  together  will  not  only  be  sweeter,  and  keep  longer 
moist,  but  is  also  more  wholesome  ; easier  of  concoction.  It  must 
be  confessed,  that  the  nutritive  quality  is  contained  in  the  fine  flour, 
yet,  in  the  branny  part  is  contained  the  opening  and  digestive  quality 
and  there  is  as  great  a necessity  for  the  one  as  for  the  other,  for  the 
support  of  health.  By  what  has  been  said,  we  may  gather  that  the 
eating  of  fine  bread  is  inimical  to  health,  and  contrary  both  to  nature 
and  reason  ; and  was  at  first  invented  to  gratify  luxurious  persons, 
who  are  ignorant  both  of  themselves  and  of  the  true  virtue  and 
efficacy  of  natural  things.”  (Tryon’s  Way  to  Health , pp.  147,  148.) 

The  same  author,  pp.  286,  287,  relates  the  following  anecdote  of 
Henry  VIII.  “ There  is  a pleasant  story  of  king  Henry  VIII.,  in 
the  first  part  of  his  reign,  riding  a hunting;  and  being  hungry,  he 
strayed  from  his  attendants,  and  came  alone  to  a monastery  about 


72 


APPENDIX. 


dinner  time.  The  fat,  lazy  abbot,  welcomed  him  very  kindly,  for 
hearing  that  the  king  was  in  that  country,  he  concluded  this  was  one 
of  his  guards.  At  dinner  they  had  great  varieties,  and  the  king  fed 
like  a farmer  on  a piece  of  roast  beef.  But  the  abbot,  who  daily 
crammed  himself  with  delicacies,  could  scarce  relish  a bit  of  any 
thing  before  him  ; and  pleasantly  said  to  the  king : — ‘ Honest  friend, 
I would  give  five  hundred  pounds  if  1 could  pick  so  heartily  as  you 
do  on  a piece  of  roast  beef/  The  king  returned  him  some  small 
compliment,  and  after  dinner  took  his  leave.  About  a fortnight 
after,  the  king  sent  a messenger  for  the  old  fulsome  abbot,  and  or- 
dered him  to  be  carried  to  the  tower,  there  to  be  close  prisoner,  and 
allowed  a given  quantity  of  small  beer  and  bread  every  day,  but  no 
other  food.  The  abbot  could  not  imagine  what  he  had  done  to  occa- 
sion such  an  imprisonment ; and  being  thus  dieted,  he  soon  came  to 
have  a good  stomach.  After  about  a month,  the  king  ordered  the 
keeper  to  carry  him  in  a good  piece  of  hot  roast  beef,  on  which  the 
abbot  fell  wTith  such  violence  as  if  he  would  have  eaten  it  at  a mouth- 
ful. The  king,  who  was  stationed  in  a room  where  he  could  see 
how  he  laid  about,  at  last  stepped  in  and  demanded  his  five  hundred 
pounds.  4 For/  said  he,  ‘ you  said  you  would  give  it ; and  I have 
performed  the  cure,  and  got  you  a better  stomach  than  all  the  doc- 
tors in  England  would  have  done  — and  so  upon  payment  of  the  five 
hundred  pounds,  discharged  him.” 

“ No  flocks  that  range  the  valley  free, 

To  slaughter  I condemn, 

Taught  by  the  Power  that  pities  me, 

I learn  to  pity  them. 

“ But  from  the  mountain’s  grassy  side, 

A guiltless  feast  I bring  ; 

A scrip  with  herbs  and  fruits  supplied, 

And  water  from  the  spring.” 

Goldsmith's  Hermit, 

<‘To  mix  the  food  by  vicious  rules  of  art, 

To  kill  the  stomach,  and  to  sink  the  heart, 

To  make  mankind  in  social  virtue  sour, 

Cram  o’er  each  dish,  and  be  what  they  devour  ; 

For  this  the  kitchen  muse  first  framed  her  book,. 

Commanding  sweat  to  stream  form  every  cook  : 

Children  no  more  their  antic  gambols  tried. 

And  friGnds  to  physic  wondered  why  they  died.” 

Barlow's  Hasty  Pudding , Canto  II 

« In  China,  a single  acre  of  land  sown  with  rice,  produces  suffi- 
cient for  the  consumption  of  five  persons  for  a year,  allowing  tvo 
pounds  and  a half  a day  to  each”  ( Breton  s China , Vol.  IX.  p.  29.) 

“ The  peculiar  property  of  the  corn  plant,  is  that  of  being  pro- 
duced, in  some  shape  or  other,  in  every  part  of  the  world,  from 
the  rice  of  the  Ganges  to  the  barley  of  Finland.  It  is,  however 


APPENDIX. 


73 


remarkable,  that  it  no  where  grows  spontaneously,  like  other  plants, 
so  that  providence  appears  to  have  devolved  altogether  on  our  spe- 
cies the  charge  of  maintaining  and  extending  its  cultivation.  Bread 
is,  of  all  vegetable  nourishment,  the  most  substantial  and  durable.” 
(St.  Pierre's  Studies  of  Nature,  Yol.  I.  p.  22.) 

“ The  living  herbs  spring  up  prefusely  wild, 

O’er  all  the  deep  green  earth,  beyond  the  power 
Of  botanist  to  number  up  their  tribes  : 

But  who  their  virtues  can  declare  1 who  pierce 
With  vision  pure,  into  the  secret  stores 
Of  health,  and  life,  and  joy  ! The  food  of  man, 

While  yet  he  lived  in  innocence,  and  told 
A length  of  golden  years  unfleshed  in  blood, 

A stranger  to  the  savage  arts  of  life, 

Death,  rapine,  carnage,  surfeit,  and  disease, 

The  lord,  and  not  the  tyrant  of  the  world.” 

Thomson. 

“ Milk  is  in  part  vegetable  food  ; and  as  such  is  used  by  all  pasto- 
ral nations,  and  serves  in  a measure  as  a substitute  for  it.”  (Dr. 
Lambe’s  Reports  on  Regimen,  p.  167.) 

“ To  prevent  indigestion,  milk  ought  not  to  be  eat  together  with 
flesh.”  (Dr.  Willet .) 

“ Eggs  contain  a larger  proportion  of  pure  nourishment  than  any 
other  food.  They  are  a most  valuable  article,  not  only  when  con- 
sumed by  themselves,  but  when  mixed  with  other  things.  Raw, 
poached,  soft  boiled,  or  in  any  ways  lightly  cooked,  they  are  gently 
laxative*  and  sit  easy  on  most  stomachs.”  ( Sir  John  Sinclair's  Code 
of  Health,  Yol.  I.  p.  414.) 

“ An  entije  diet  of  vegetable  matter  gives  to  the  disposition  a gen- 
tleness, softness,  and  mildness  of  feeling,  directly  the  reverse  of  that 
ferocity  of  mind  and  fierceness  of  character  which  form  the  leading 
feature  of  all  carnivorous  animals,  it  has  also  a particular  influence 
on  the  powers  of  the  mind,  producing  liveliness  of  imagination  and 
acuteness  of  judgment  in  an  eminent  degree.  (Sir  John  Sinclair's 
Code  of  Health,  Yol.  I.  p.  423.) 

(25)  Nor  meet  one  star  that  gilds  the  glowing  pole !) 

“ Moenenius  Agrippa  dispelled  the  prejudice  of  the  Roman  people, 
by  a fabulous  allusion  to  the  absurdity  and  blindness  of  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  human  body  joining  in  rebellion  against  the  stomach  : — 
and  if  fable  or  fact  could  be  adduced  with  such  successful  persuasion 
to  dispel  the  blindness  of  modern  luxury,  the  stomach  would  not  so 
perpetually  be  excited  as  it  is,  to  the  contrary  office  of  waging  war 
against  all  the  members  of  the  body.”  (Thomas  Hare  on  the  Sto- 
mach, &c.,  London , 1821,  p.  300.) 

10 


74 


APPENDIX 


“ The  man  who  perceives  in  his  own  soul  the  supreme  soul  pre- 
sent in  all  creatures,  acquires  kindness  towards  all,  and  shall  be  ab- 
sorbed at  last  in  the  highest  essence,  even  in  that  of  the  Almighty 
himself.”  {Laws  of  Menu.) 


(26)  Where  health  and  purity  should  ever  reign . 


Tartar  is  an  accumulation  of  acrimonious  earthy  matter,  round 
the  necks  of  the  teeth.  This  accretion  arises  from  the  fluid  secre- 
tions of  the  mouth,  and  consequently,  few  persons  are  entirely  free 
from  it,  though  some,  from  the  state  of  their  general  health,  may  be 
more  subject  to  it  than  others.  The  teeth  to  which  it  is  generally 
attached,  are  those  that  are  the  least  acted  upon  in  the  process  of 
mastication  ; and  the  molares  of  the  upper,  as  well  as  the  incisors  of 
the  under  jaw,  being  situated  nearer  to  the  salivary  ducts,  more  rea- 
dily become  affected.  Whenever  tartar  is  permitted  to  accumulate 
around  the  teeth,  the  gums,  the  membrane  lining  the  alveoli,  and 
even  the  aveolar  process  itself,  are  liable  to  suffer  through  the  pow- 
ers of  absorption  being  increased  by  inflammatory  action.  It  thus 
not  unfrequently  happens,  that  persons  through  want  of  proper  care 
and  attention  to  the  removal  of  tartar,  have  lost  the  whole  of  their 
teeth. 

“ The  formation  of  a calculous  deposit  upon  the  teeth,  in  a greater 
or  less  degree,  may  almost  be  said  to  be  universal ; for,  although  in 
many  persons  of  sound  health  and  temperate  habits,  it  is  possible,  by 
care,  to  remove  it  so  immediately  after  its  deposition,  that  the  teeth 
are  kept  generally  free  from  it,  still,  I believe  it  is  in  all  cases  pro- 
duced, and  would  accumulate,  but  for  constant  attention  to  the  pro* 
per  means  for  its  removal.  It  consists  of  calcareous  substance, 
which,  when  first  deposited,  is  soft,  friable,  and  readily  crumbling 
under  the  finger ; but  gradually,  and,  as  it  were,  by  a slow  kind  of 
crystallization,  acquires  almost  a rocky  hardness.  Its  usual  color  is 
a dull,  whitish  yellow,  or  buff;  though  in  some  cases  it  is  dark  brown, 
or  black,  and  in  others  has  a greenish  hue.  It  also  varies  in  the  cha- 
racter of  its  surface,  being  generally  smooth,  especially  in  those 
parts  where  the  tongue  acts  constantly  upon  it ; but  occasionally,  in 
other  parts,  exceedingly  rough  and  rugged.  It  is  susceptible  of 
being  stained  by  any  coloring  matter  frequently  taken  into  the  mouth 
during  its  deposition  ; as,  for  instance,  from  smoking  tobacco,  or  from 
the  long  continued  use  of  colored  gargles,  especially  such  as  are 
composed  of  articles  which  are  not  capable  of  perfect  solution  in 
aqueous  menstrua. 

“ With  the  exception  of  gangrene,  there  is  no  kind  of  injury  to 
which  the  teeth  are  exposed,  so  commonly  and  so  extensively  des- 
tructive as  this  concretion.”  ( Bell  on  Human  Teeth , p.  192.) 


APPENDIX. 


76 


(27)  As  death  disparts  the  body  from  the  soul . 

<{  It  will  be  objected,  perhaps,  to  what  we  have  said,  that  many 
people  who  have  beautiful  teeth,  and  a healthy  mouth,  pay  no  atten- 
tion to  these  parts ; whilst  those  who  attach  a great  value  to  them, 
and  take  the  greatest  care  of  them,  have  much  trouble  in  preserving 
them.  But  it  will  also  be  an  easy  matter  to  reply  to  these  objections, 
by  making  a comparison  between  children  born  of  parents  of  sound 
constitution,  and  reared  in  the  country,  and  those  born  in  cities, 
whom  an  ill  conducted  education  has  predisposed  to  a debility  of  or- 
ganization often  to  be  recognised  by  the  state  of  their  teeth  alone.— 
It  ought,  therefore,  perhaps  to  be  remarked,  that  diseased  teeth  with 
many  individuals,  originate  in  an  organic  disposition,  which  may  be 
transmitted  from  fathers  to  their  children.”  ( Gerbaux  on  the  Teeth , 
Edinburgh  Edition , p.  23.) 

(28)  The  brush , the  dentrifice , and , from  the  spring . 

“ It  is  a religious  precept,”  says  Tournefort  in  his  voyage  to  the 
Levant,  “ among  the  Mussulmen,  to  make  the  little  ablution  with  the 
face  turned  toward  Mecca  ; to  rinse  the  mouth  thrice,  and  clean  their 
teeth  with  a brush.”  This  shows  how  highly  this  custom  is  esteemed 
among  a people,  who  formerly  were  forbidden,  according  to  Mena- 
vius,  to  have  a tooth  extracted  without  permission  from  the  emperor. 
Let  children  be  taught  by  their  parents  the  proper  degree  of  care 
necessary  for  their  teeth ; they  generally  imitate  them  even  in  their 
sports  : — here  the  agreeable  lesson  will  be  converted  into  a useful 
habit.  {Duval,  p.  75.) 

(29)  And  blooming  health  will  soon  reward  it  all . 

“ As  soon  as  the  first  teeth  of  a child  are  completed,  they  should 
be  brushed  twice,  or,  at  least,  once  a day,  with  a soft  brush  and 
water.  When  children  are  thus  early  familiarized  to  the  healthy  and 
necessary  custom  of  brushing  the  teeth,  it  becomes  a fixed  habit,  and 
they  find  it  ever  afterward  absolutely  essential  to  their  comfort.  In 
winter,  or  in  cold  weather,  the  water  used  in  brushing  the  teeth 
should  be  tepid.  It  is  quite  unnecessary  to  use  any  kind  of  powder 
to  the  first  teeth  of  children.”  {Murphy  on  the  Teeth,  London,  1811, 

p.  118.) 


(30)  Restore  her  hopes,  and  make  her  lovely  still. 

Tartar  is  more  safely  removed  by  instruments  than  by  such  che- 
mical solvents  as  have  been  too  commonly  employed ; for,  although 


76 


APPENDIX. 


the  injury  they  occasion  is  not  at  first  perceptible,  they  ultimately 
disorder  the  substance  and  texture  of  the  teeth.  This  is  not  the 
case  when  the  operation  is  properly  performed  by  means  of  instru- 
ments ; and  is  attended  with  neither  pain  to  the  person,  nor  danger 
to  the  enamel. 

The  manual  operation  of  cleaning  the  teeth  with  instruments,  is 
not  performed  with  equal  skill  and  delicacy  by  all  who  practise  it. — 
There  are,  of  course,  as  many  different  degrees  of  merit  in  dentists, 
as  there  are  in  the  practitioners  of  any  other  art  or  science. 


(31)  The  offspring  of  an  epicurean  age. 

“ But  just  disease  to  luxury  succeeds, 

And  every  death  its  own  avenger  breeds ; 

The  fury  passions  first  from  blood  began, 

And  turned  on  man  a fiercer  savage — man.’' 

Pope’s  Essay  on  Man , Epistle  III. 


(32)  And  hears  them  all  successively  away. 

Caries  is  the  most  frequent  disease  of  the  teeth.  The  general 
seat  of  it  is,  on  the  sides  of  the  front  teeth  and  in  the  centre  and 
sides  of  the  back  ones.  Its  progress  through  all  its  different  stages 
is  easily  marked.  First  of  all,  a small  dark  spot  appears  on  the  ena- 
mel, through  which  the  disease  quickly  passes  into  the  internal  struc- 
ture of  the  bone.  When  this  has  taken  place,  the  least  pressure  from 
chewing  any  hard  substance  is  liable  to  break  away  portions  of  the 
enamel,  and  thus  the  internal  part  becomes  subject  to  every  injury 
which  can  arise  from  extraneous  matter  lodging  therein.  The  mo- 
lares  are  more  subject  to  this  disease  than  the  front  teeth  ; first,  be- 
cause their  indented  surfaces  more  readily  retain  any  extraneous 
matter ; and  secondly,  because  they  are  less  in  view,  and  conse- 
quently less  attended  to. 

In  the  enamel  of  the  most  apparently  perfect  teeth,  small  cracks 
may,  with  a magnifying  power,  easi'y  be  discovered.  These,  al- 
though unnoticed  by  the  individual,  are  sufficient  to  admit  disordered 
fluids,  and  to  account  for  many  forms  of  decay.  This  may  likewise 
account  for  decay  taking  place  in  the  broad  surfaces  of  the  molares, 
where  the  points  of  contraction  always  produce  a depression,  and 
thus  afford  a convenient  lodgment  for  acrid  saliva  and  other  decom- 
posing agents. 

From  my  own  observations  I am  induced  to  believe,  that  caries  is 
universally  caused  by  the  action  of  external  agents  ; and  therefore 
cleanliness,  and  a due  regard  to  the  general  health,  after  the  proper 
offices  of  the  dentist  are  performed,  is  the  only  guard  against  it.  But 
some  teeth,  from  their  being  of  less  dense  structure,  are  less  capable 


APPENDIX. 


77 


of  resisting  the  action  of  decomposing  matter,  and  consequently  will 
require  greater  attention  to  ward  off  disease. 

Mr.  Brewster,  of  Charleston,  whose  experience,  from  having  been 
fifteen  years  in  extensive  practice,  has  given  him  ample  opportunities 
of  judging,  has,  in  a manuscript  with  which  he  politely  furnished  me, 
enumerated  the  following  as  the  principal  causes  of  decay.  Consti- 
tutional softness  of  the  teeth  ; The  use  of  medicines  during  dentition 
or  in  after  life  ; the  too  free  use  of  acids,  which,  uniting  with  the  lime 
in  the  enamel,  destroys  its  strength  ; A too  slow  growth  of  the  teeth 
between  the  time  of  protruding  their  points  through  the  gum,  and  the 
full  development  of  their  crowns.  It  will  often  happen  that  the  pro- 
jecting points  of  the  grinding  teeth  pass  through  the  gum,  and  there 
for  a long  time  remain  with  a portion  of  the  surface,  comprehending 
the  indentations  of  the  . grinding  surface,  partially  covered  with  the 
gum.  As  there  is  no  union  between  the  enamel  and  the  gum,  fine 
and  soft  particles  of  food  insinuate  themselves  between  the  gum  and 
the  tooth.  This  matter  decays,  and  the  acid  generated  thereby 
acts  perniciously  on  the  enamel,  and  lays  the  foundation  for  subse- 
quent decay  of  the  tooth.  The  remedy  is  simple,  and,  in  most  cases, 
effectual.  It  consists  in  removing  the  gum  from  the  top  of  the  tooth, 
which  is  performed  by  a skilful  operation,  with  little  or  no  pain  to  the 
patient.  This  prolific  source  of  decay  I am  not  aware  has  ever  been 
noticed  by  any  writer  on  the  teeth.  Another  prolific  source  of  decay 
is  the  permitting  a new  tooth  to  come  in  contact  with  the  decaying 
part  of  an  old  one.  The  remedy  consists  in  removing  a portion  or 
the  whole  of  the  old  tooth. 

The  too  free  use  of  mercury ; The  accumulation  of  tartar  ; Ne- 
glect of  cleanliness  by  suffering  the  particles  of  food  to  remain  be- 
tween the  teeth  after  meals  ; Irregular  living,  or  any  other  cause 
which  occasions  a disordered  stomach  ; Extremes  of  heat  and  cold  ; 
All  Acids,  whether  in  fruits,  powders,  or  lotions  ; Metalic  tooth- 
picks ; Injudicious  dental  operations ; Most  of  the  nostrums  adminis- 
tered for  tooth  ache. 

“ I propose,”  says  Mr.  Bell,  “ to  substitute  for  the  word  caries,  the 
term  gangrene  of  the  teeth,  which  expresses  the  real  nature  of  the 
disease.  It  may  be  defined — mortification  of  any  part  of  a tooth, 
producing  gradual  decomposition  of  its  substance.  It  usually  attacks 
the  crown  of  the  tooth  ; sometimes,  though  rarely,  the  neck ; but  I 
believe  it  scarcely  ever  makes  its  first  appearance  on  the  root.  It 
invariably  shows  itself  on  the  external  surface  of  the  bone,  imme- 
diately underneath  the  enamel,  and  its  existence  is,  in  many  cases, 
first  indicated  by  an  opaque  spot  on  that  substance,  occasioned  by 
partial  breaking  down  of  its  crystalline  structure ; in  others,  its 
presence  is  shown  by  the  discolored  bone  being  seen  through  the 
semi-transparency  of  the  enamel.”  ( Bell  on  the  Human  Teeth , p. 
1 J 8.) 

I have  made  the  foregoing  quotation  from  the  work  of  Mr.  Thomas 


78 


APPENDIX. 


Bel],  with  whom  I once  conversed  personally  on  the  doctrine  contained 
therein,  for  the  purpose  of  expressing  my  entire  dissent  from  the 
opinion  held  by  most  of  the  writers  on  this  subject,  in  relation  both 
to  the  local  origin,  and  the  immediate  cause  of  caries,  or  dental  gan- 
grene. Some  of  these  writers  divide  the  disease  into  two  kinds, 
which  they  distinguish  by  the  names  external  and  internal  caries ; 
while  others  inculcate  the  doctrine  so  hostile  to  all  my  experience 
and  observation,  that  caries  commences,  as  Mr.  Bell  says  in  the  pas- 
sage quoted,  on  the  surface  of  the  bone,  under  the  enamel,  and  that 
the  disease  becomes  visible  through  the  semi-transparency  of  the 
enamel,  which  itself  is  destroyed  by  being  broken  away  by  mechani- 
cal violence.  Now  I must  aver,  that  after  a constant  and  exten- 
sively diversified  practice  of  nineteen  years,  both  in  Europe  and 
America,  I have  never  known  a solitary  instance  of  this  disorder 
which  was  not  evidently  occasioned  from  external  causes  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  tooth,  penetrating  first  through  the  enamel,  if  on  the  body 
of  the  tooth,  and  then  assailing  the  bony  structure. 

There  are  teeth  that  are  faulty,  both  in  their  enamel  and  organiza- 
tion ; owing,  probably,  to  constitutional  or  hereditary  peculiarities 
which  have  not,  as  I am  aware,  ever  been  satisfactorily  explained 
by  any  author. 

As  to  the  cause  of  caries,  I published  my  opinion  many  years  ago, 
first  in  London,  and  afterwards  in  this  city,  and  have  seen  no  cause 
to  espouse  a contrary  opinion.  I consider  the  immediate  and  excit- 
ing cause  of  dental  decay  to  be  always  external  to  the  tooth  itself, 
and  to  consist  of  certain  corrosive  menstrua,  to  which  these  organs 
are  exposed  from  bodily  disease,  improper  aliments,  powerful  medi- 
cines and  the  thousand  other  sources  of  acrid  filth  and  destructive 
poisons  that  become  concentrated  in  the  mouth  and  deposited  upon 
the  teeth.  These  procuring  causes  of  caries  may  indeed  derive  their 
origin  from  constitutional  diseases  acting  upon  the  system  at  various 
periods  of  life,  but  whatever  internal  defect  of  structure  a tooth  may 
derive  from  original  organization,  how  much  soever  it  may  be  pre- 
disposed to  take  a diseased  action  under  favorable  conditions,  still,  the 
tooth  never  decays  till  externally  affected  by  putrescent,  or  corrosive, 
or  disorganizing  matter,  which  breaks  up  its  structure. 

That  such  has  been  my  uniform  opinion,  will  be  seen  from  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  the  work  on  the  stomach  and  digestive  organs, 
published  by  Dr.  Thomas  Hare,  Fellow  of  the  Royal  College  of 
Surgeons  in  London,  in  1821. 

“ The  theories  concerning  the  cause  of  decay  in  the  teeth  which 
seem  to  have  met  most  attention,  are  those  referring  it  to  an  undue 
degree  of  compression  exerted  by  the  irlateral  surfaces  on  each 
other,  and  to  a putrefactive  fermentation  of  extraneous  matter  lodg- 
ing in  the  interstices.  The  former  has  been  ably  set  forth  by  Mr. 
Bell,  of  St.  Thomas’s  Hospital,  in  the  Medico-chirurgical  Transac- 
tions ; the  latter  was  published  about  two  years  ago,  by  Mr.  Parmly.” 
(page  269.) 


appendix. 


70 


(S3)  A dream  forgot , a tale  of  other  years. 

Dr.  Fitch  alleges  the  following  three  modes  in  which  disordered 
teeth  contribute  to  the  production  of  that  distressing  disease— the 
dyspepsy,  or  indigestion. 

“ First,  by  preventing  a proper  mastication  of  the  food. 

“ Secondly,  by  the  ulcerated  and  putrid  matter  which  passes  from 
the  teeth  and  gums,  along  with  the  aliment,  to  the  stomach. 

“ Thirdly,  the  irritation  produced  by  diseased  teeth,  being  often  so 
great  as  to  disturb  the  healthy  functions  of  the  system,  and  of  the 
stomach  in  particular.”  ( Fitch  on  the  Teeth , p.  308.) 

(34)  Most  justly  damned  to  everlasting  fame  ! 

“ The  pain  commonly  termed  the  tooth-ache  is  one  of  the  most 
excruciating  to  which  we  are  liable.  It  is  caused  by  an  inflamma- 
tion of  the  membrane  lining  the  cavity.  In  inflammation,  one  of  the 
consequences  is  a swelling  of  the  part,  which  is  generally  followed 
by  a diminution  of  the  pain,  the  degree  of  which  seems  to  be  regu- 
lated by  the  resistance  and  compression  which  the  inflamed  vessels 
suffer  from  the  surrounding  parts.  The  membrane  of  the  tooth  being 
situated  within  a cavity  which  is  incapable  of  extension,  there  must 
necessarily  exist  an  insurmountable  obstacle  to  the  swelling  of  the 
membrane  ; and  this  it  is  which  renders  the  pain  so  extremely  acute. 
In  some  few  instances,  caries  will  proceed  without  being  accompa- 
nied by  any  sensations ; the  tooth  gradually  breaks  away,  until  the 
whole  of  it  is  removed.”  (Fox,  Part  II.  p.  25.) 

“ The  pain  called  tooth- ache,  which  Galen  very  properly  consi- 
dered the  most  cruel  and  grievous  of  al!  pains  that  are  not  mortal,, 
seems  clearly  to  be  occasioned  by  decayed  portions  of  bone,  no 
matter  how  minute,  acting  by  contact  on  the  nerves  of  the  teeth. — - 
And  I firmly  believe  the  pain  is  never  felt  until  the  caries,  which  al- 
ways acts  from  without  inwards,  has  actually  met  a branch  of  nerve. 

“ No  species  of  animal  matter,  in  a state  of  decay,  is  so  offensive 
to  the  vitality  of  the  adjoining  substance,  whether  nerve,  or  muscle,, 
or  membrane,  or  any  part  or  portion  of  the  living  body,  as  decayed 
bone.  Flow  very  small  a portion  of  decayed  bone  in  a tooth  is  ca- 
pable not  only  of  causing  the  most  agonizing  pains,  but  also  of  com- 
municating a feetor  to  the  breath,  is  inconceivable  by  those  who  have 
not  pursued  the  inquiry  with  minuteness : and  this  offensive  matter,, 
when  it  thus  has  an  opportunity  of  acting,  communicates,  through 
the  medium  of  the  nerves,  a sympathetic  pain  to  the  teeth  which  are 
perfectly  sound.”  ( Hare  on  the  Stomach,  p.  240.) 

In  addition  to  the  preceding  remarks,  I observe,  that  the  tooth-ache- 
is  sometimes  so  severe  as  to  produce  alarming  derangements  of  health  \ 


80 


APPENDIX. 


while  at  other  times  it  is  merely  an  annoying  sensation,  which  can 
scarcely  be  termed  pain.  The  cavity  of  the  tooth,  in  most  cases,  is 
the  original  seat  of  this  malady.  But  as  the  teeth  are  supplied  by 
ramifications  of  those  nerves  which  supply  different  parts  of  the  face 
and  head,  it  frequently  happens  that  one  or  more  of  those  parts  may 
suffer  more  severely  than  the  tooth  itself. 

Diseases  in  the  wisdom  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw  affect  the  ear  ; 
and  when  those  of  the  upper  jaw  are  diseased,  the  temples  generally 
become  affected.  The  effects  of  disease  in  one  tooth,  from  nervous 
influence,  is  sometimes  felt  in  the  opposing  tooth  of  the  other  jaw. 

No  certain  treatment  can  be  laid  down  for  the  tooth-ache  ; it  must 
be  regulated  entirely  by  a knowledge  of  the  cause,  whether  arising 
from  decay,  the  irritation  of  tartar,  the  application  of  cold,  or  merely 
as  a sympathetic  affection.  The  disease  which  occasions  this  ma- 
lady is  insidious  in  its  progress,  dangerous  and  sometimes  fatal  in  its 
consequences  ; but  the  danger  more  frequently  arises  from  an  impro- 
per application  of  remedies,  than  from  the  disease  itself.  Powerful 
remedies  for  the  tooth-ache,  as  well  as  for  other  diseases,  are  hazard- 
ous in  the  hands  of  the  ignorant. 

(35)  And  tooth-ache  came , the  terror  of  mankind ! 


“ When  pains  in  the  teeth  show  a disposition  to  change  their  places 
with  great  facility,  like  all  rheumatic  affections,  they  may  yield  to 
the  most  insignificant  means,  even  to  the  touch  of  some  amulet,  ap- 
plied with  an  air  of  mystery  and  confidence  which  imposes  upon  the 
patient.  Every  one  knows,  that  in  timid  people,  the  presence  of  a 
surgeon,  in  most  instances,  is  sufficient,  for  a time,  to  dispel  the  pain 
of  tooth-ache.  It  is  particularly  for  these  pains  that  some  dentists 
have  a favorite  odontalgic  elixir,  of  whose  sovereign  virtues  they  are 
so  fond  of  boasting.  These  liquors  are  almost  all  spirituous  tinc- 
tures, whose  powerfully  stimulating  action  often  suffices  to  suspend 
the  pain. 

“ In  fact,  a drop  of  the  tincture  of  opium,  or  any  one  of  the  essen- 
tial oils,  applied  to  the  part  by  means  of  a little  cotton,  may  produce 
an  instantaneous  abatement  of  the  pain,  but  which  seldom  fails, 
sooner  or  later,  to  return.  Frequent  successes  of  this  kind,  of  which 
marvellous  accounts  are  daily  published,  have  successfully  brought 
into  vogue  numerous  elixirs  and  various  other  means,  all  rpore  or 
less  ridiculous.”  ( Gerbaux , pp.  80,  83.) 

<s  Doctor  Sims,  a celebrated  practitioner  in  London,  relates  that  he 
was  such  a martyr  to  the  tooth-ache,  that  he  was  confined  to  his 
house  for  several  weeks  together  by  that  malady,  but  after  he 
avoided  taking  his  food  either  hot  or  cold,  he  entirely  escaped  it. 
He  was  particularly  careful  not  to  take  soup  or  any  other  liquid,  of 
a temperature  higher  than  ninety — eight  degrees  less  than  blood  heat. 


APPENDIX. 


<$1 

He  tfras  induced  to  try  this  experiment,  by  reflecting  that  heat  ex- 
panded all  bodies.  When  applied  to  a tooth,  therefore,  it  must  di- 
minish its  cavity,  compress  the  nerve,  and  consequently  produce 
pain.  However  defective  this  theory  may  be,  the  practice  of  endea- 
voring to  preserve  those  parts  in  an  equable  temperature,  will  be 
found  to  be  highly  important.”  (Duval. — Atkinson’s  translation , p. 
76.) 


(36)  To  mercy  deaf,  by  sorrowing  man  accurst . 


The  following  characteristic  lines  are  from  the  “ Address  to  the 
Toothache,”  by  Robert  Burns  : — 


“My  curse  upon  your  venomed  stang, 

That  shoots  my  tortured  gums  alang, 

And  through  my  lugs  gi’es  money  a twang, 
Wi’  gnawing  vengeance  ! 
Tearing  my  nerves  wi’  bitter  pang, 

Like  racking  engines  l 

“ When  fevers  burn,  or  ague  freezes, 
.Rheumatics  gnaw,  or  cholic  squeezes, 

Our  neighbors’  sympathy  may  ease  us 
Wi’  pitying  moan  ; 

But  thou — the  hell  o’  a’  diseases, 

Ay  mocks  our  groan  ! 

“ Where’er  the  place  be  priests  ca’  hell. 
Whence  a’  the  tones  o’  misery  yell, 

And  ranked  plagues  their  numbers  tell, 

In  dreadfu’  raw ; 

Thou — tooth-ache,  surely  bear’6t  the  bell, 
Amangst  them  a.’  ” 


“We  were  interrupted  by  Mr.  L.  He  is  one  of  your  plain,  com- 
mon sense  sort  of  people,  practical,  fixed  in  his  own  opinions,  a little 
inclined  to  stoicism,  with  a dash  of  savage  philosophy,  partly 
affected  to  hide  tenderer  feelings,  and  about  six  feet  and  an  inch 
high,  without  his  shoes. 

What’s  the  matter  with  your  face  V inquired  he. 

“ f Tooth  ache,’  said  I,  ‘ all  swelled  : keeps  me  awake,  and’- 

“ ‘ Try  my  nitri  dulcis  and  alumpulv.,’  said  W. 

“ ‘ Curse  your  nitri  dulcis  and  alum  pulv .,’  said  L.,  ‘ there  is  but 
one  cure  for  the  tooth-ache,  and  that’s  a sure  one,’ 

“ I looked  tremblingly  up.  He  had  his  great,  square  fist  doubled, 
as  if  he  held  something  in  his  hand.  He  raised  it  to  his  mouth,  and 
screwed  around  with  the  motion  of  a dentist,  uprooting  some  huge,, 
double  grinder,  with  three  diverging  prongs.  My  friends  were 
11 


82 


APPENDIX. 


silent.  I turned  a little  pale.  He  saw  what  an  impression  he  had 
made,  and  with  a grin  that  went  to  my  very  soul,  added  ; — 

“ * Out  with  it,  you  fool,  and  there’s  an  end.  It’s  worth  all  the 
nilri  dulcis  and  alumpulv.  in  the  universe.’ 

“ There  was  a melancholy  truth  in  what  he  remarked.  It  sunk 
into  my  heart ; I made  up  my  mind  ; and  when  my  worthy  advis- 
ers left  me,  I walked  around  to  Mr. •.  There  was  an  awful 

silence — a moment  of  intense  fear — a slight  struggle — an  agony — a 
cry  from  the  heart’s  core — I came  out  the  happiest  of  men.” — 
(Breams  and  Reveries  of  a Quiet  Man , by  Theodore  S.  Fay , Esq. 
Vol.  I.  p.  187.) 

(37)  And  stops  the  fearful  progress  of  decay . 

As  great  disadvantages  frequently  arise  when  teeth  are  decayed, 
from  their  crowding  against  each  other,  it  becomes  expedient,  with  a 
view  to  stop  the  progress  of  incipient  disease,  to  remove  portions 
from  their  sides  by  means  of  a file;  but,  if  this  operation  be  not  per- 
formed before  considerable  parts  are  decayed,  it  must  not  be  ex- 
pected to  afford  lasting  benefit.  The  incisors  and  canine  teeth  may 
be  filed  with  the  greatest  probability  of  success  ; but  the  bicuspides 
and  molares  have  such  large  surfaces,  that  caries  often  extends  itself 
by  far  too  deep  before  it  is  observed,  to  be  effectually  removed  by 
the  file.  Little  advantage  can  be  expected  from  filing,  unless  the 
■whole  diseased  part  be  effectually  removed. 

It  is  proper  to  observe,  that  there  are  some  teeth,  which,  although 
attended  to  at  an  early  period,  are  but  little  benefitted  by  the  opera- 
tion, either  from  some  original  defect  in  their  organization,  or  certain 
peculiarities  of  constitution ; but  this  is,  by  no  means,  commonly  the 
case ; and  the  instances  of  its  proving  essentially  serviceable  are  so 
innumerable,  that  it  may  be  recommended  with  the  highest  confi- 
dence of  success. 


(38)  Performs  in  nature  one  substantial  use . 

The  benefits  of  the  operation  of  stopping  the  teeth  are  so  truly 
important,  that  it  is  impossible  to  recommend  it  too  earnestly  to  the 
public ; for  thousands  of  the  most  useful  teeth,  which  otherwise 
would,  on  account  of  their  painfulness,  be  sacrificed  by  extraction, 
may  thus  be  preserved,  not  only  for  many  years,  but  for  the  remain- 
der of  a long  life. 

The  finest  teeth  are  commonly  the  most  highly  organized,  and 
therefore  become  more  acutely  painful  when  only  a very  small  por- 
tion is  decayed.  The  operation  of  stopping  will  always  succeed,  if 
performed  before  the  decay  has  reached  the  sensible  part  of  the 


APPENDIX. 


83 


tooth,  unless  its  cavity  be  superficial,  or  of  a funnel  shape,  and  not 
capable  of  being  sufficiently  deepened  for  retaining  the  gold.  In 
such  cases,  all  attempts  at  stopping  it  will  be  fruitless.  But  if  the 
depth  be  sufficient  towards  the  sensible  part  of  the  tooth  to  allow  of 
the  excavation  being  made  larger,  or  directed  obliquely  or  other- 
wise, as  may  be  most  eligible  for  receiving  and  securing  the  gold,  the 
caries  may  be  so  effectually  arrested  as  to  cause  no  farther  uneasi- 
ness to  the  patient. 

“ There  is  no  object  connected  with  dental  surgery  of  more  im- 
portance than  that  of  stopping.  There  is  none  better  deserving  the 
attention  of  the  student,  nor  is  there  any  in  which  the  dentist  may 
more  successfully  display  his  professional  skill,  Were  we  to  judge, 
indeed,  from  the  almost  innumerable  cases  of  failure  which  occur,  we 
might  conclude  that  the  uncertainty  of  the  operation  was  so  great  as 
essentially  to  diminish  its  utility  and  importance.  These  cases,  how- 
ever, generally  occur  under  the  management  of  ignorant  persons, 
who  are  alike  incompetent  to  the  mechanical  and  the  surgical  part  of 
the  operation,  and  who  are  equally  incapable  of  choosing  a proper 
time  for  its  performance.”  (Snell  on  the  Teeth , p.  151.) 

“ If  properly  done,”  says  Dr.  Fitch,  “ this  is  one  of  the  most  use- 
ful operations  in  dental  surgery  ; and  if  practicable,  it  bears  the  pre- 
ference to  any  other  operation  for  the  cure  of  diseased  teeth.  It 
should  be  an  object  of  solicitude  in  every  case,  when  we  are  called 
upon  to  extract  or  file  the  teeth,  to  obviate  both  operations  by  plug- 
ging them,  if  in  any  way  expedient  or  practicable.”  ( Fitch  on  the 
Teeth , p.  398.) 

“ I have  no  hesitation  in  affirming  this  to  be  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant and  useful  operations  that  can  be  performed.”  ( Sigmond .) 

“ By  the  beautiful  and  useful  operation  of  stopping  or  plugging 
teeth  which  are  greatly  decayed  by  caries,  they  may  be  pre- 
served for  many  years  ; in  most  instances  during  the  remainder  of 
life  : and  not  unfrequently,  from  ten  to  twenty  teeth  may  be  pre- 
served by  this  operation  in  the  same  individual.”  ( Koecker ). 

(39)  And  pointing  to  the  portal  of  the  tomb . 

We  have  a most  humiliating  reflection,  in  observing  the  powers 
of  renovation  which  are  enjoyed  by  the  inhabitants  of  shells,  some  of 
which,  after  their  testaceous  coverings  have  been  broken,  whether 
on  the  edges,  in  holes,  or  in  cracks  about  the  middle,  no  matter 
where — possess  the  power  of  directing,  from  their  secretory  ves- 
sels, a sufficient  quantity  of  calcareous  matter  and  animal  gluten  to 
repair  the  injury  effectually  ; — whereas  man  has  not  the  power  of 
directing  a single  particle,  either  of  earthy  or  glutinous  matter,  from 
his  secretory  system,  to  repair  a small  deficiency  of  enamel,  which 
is  literally  a modification  of  porcelain  shell,  and  the  loss  of  which 


84 


APPENDIX. 


makes  every  accession  of  cold  actually  distressing.”  ( Hare  on  the 
Stomachy  p.  277.) 

(40)  A shining  panoply  of  orient  pearls . 

The  chief  object  of  attention  in  artificial  teeth  is,  that  the  sub- 
stance be  durable,  and  not  liable  to  change  color.  Human  teeth  and 
those  of  small  animals  have  been  heretofore  supposed  to  answer  the 
best  purpose,  while  teeth  cut  from  those  of  the  sea  horse  have 
ranked  next  in  importance ; but  lately,  they  have  been  formed  with 
great  success  from  certain  materials  known  to  the  manufacturers, 
and  have  been  variously  denominated,  according  to  the  taste  of  the 
artist — silicious  pearl  teeth— mineral  teeth — porcelain  teeth — incor- 
ruptible, and  terro-metallic.  Under  these  titles,  teeth  of  various  de- 
grees of  excellence  are  now  made,  both  in  Europe  and  this  country,  and 
from  their  great  beauty,  cleanliness,  durability,  and  unchangeableness 
in  regard  to  color,  will  no  doubt  be  generally  adopted.  They  certainly 
possess  some  advantages  over  any  other  substitute  for  original  teeth. 

Of  the  various  methods  which  have  been  devised  for  fixing  artifi- 
cial teeth,  the  most  successful  is,  that  of  fastening  a new  tooth  by 
means  of  a pivot  to  a sound  fang.  When  thus  fastened,  the  tooth 
may  be  worn  for  a considerable  time  without  producing  any  incon- 
venience. The  next  method  is,  to  adapt  a tooth  to  the  aperture 
from  which  another  has  been  extracted,  and  to  fasten  it  to  the  ad- 
joining teeth.  A third  method  is,  to  supply  the  place  of  teeth  by 
means  of  a gold  plate,  to  which  the  substitutes  are  firmly  affixed,  the 
plate  being  fitted  to  the  gums,  and  supported  by  means  of  springs. 
A fourth  mode  of  supplying  teeth,  by  which  whole  sets  may  be  pro- 
vided and  worn  with  great  convenience,  is  to  prepare  gold  or  ivory 
frames,  fitted  closely  to  the  gums,  on  which  the  teeth  are  firmly  ar- 
ranged, and,  by  means  of  springs,  made  to^perform  all  the  most  essen- 
tial functions  of  original  teeth. 

(41)  Like  Him  who  Jills  unnumbered  worlds  with  joy . 

“ He  who  pursues  his  own  advantage  only,  so  far  as  he  can  do  so 
without  injuring  another,  is  just ; he  who  gives  up  his  superfluity  ra- 
ther than  do  harm  to  another,  is  noble  ; he  who  works  only  for  the 
common  welfare,  is  the  most  noble,  and  no  one  but  him  deserves  that 
name.”  ( Spurzheim .) 

(42)  Disturb  the  system  when  themselves  destroyed. 

“ I have  been  made  happy  by  discovering  that  I have  only  added 
to  the  observations  of  other  physicians  in  pointing  out  a connexfo- 


APPENDIX. 


85 


between  the  extraction  of  decayed  and  diseased  teeth,  and  the  cure 
of  general  diseases.  Several  instances  of  the  efficacy  of  that  remedy 
in  relieving  head-ache  and  vertigo  are  mentioned  by  Dr.  Darwin. 
Dr.  Gatu  relates  that  M.  Petit,  a celebrated  French  surgeon,  had 
often  cured  intermittent  fevers,  which  had  resisted  the  bark  for 
months, and  even  years,  by  this  prescription;  and  he  quotes  from  his 
work  two  cases,  one  of  consumption,  and  one  of  vertigo,  both  of 
long  continuance,  which  were  suddenly  cured  by  the  extraction  of 
two  decayed  teeth  in  the  former,  and  two  supernumerary  teeth  in 
the  latter  case. 

“ These  facts  should  not  surprise  us,  when  we  recollect  how  often 
the  most  general  diseases  are  brought  on  by  very  inconsiderable  in- 
lets of  morbid  excitement  into  the  system.  A small  tumor,  con- 
cealed in  the  fleshy  part  of  the  leg,  has  been  known  to  bring  on  epilepsy. 
A trifling  wound  with  a splinter  or  a nail,  even  after  it  has  healed, 
has  often  induced  a fatal  tetanus.  Worms  in  the  bowels  have  pro- 
duced internal  dropsy  of  the  brain,  and  a stone  in  the  kidney  has 
excited  the  most  violent  commotions  in  every  part  of  the  system. — 
Many  hundred  facts  of  a similar  nature  are  to  be  met  in  the  records 
of  medicine. 

“ When  we  consider  how  often  the  teeth,  when  decayed,  are  ex- 
posed to  irritation  from  hoi  and  cold  drinks  and  aliments,  from  pres- 
sure by  mortification,  and  from  the  cold  air,  and  how  intimate  the 
connection  of  the  mouth  is  with  the  whole  system,  I am  disposed  to 
believe  they  are  often  unsuspected  causes  of  general,  and  particu- 
larly of  nervous  diseases.  When  we  add  to  the  list  of  those  diseases 
the  morbid  effects  of  the  acrid  and  putrid  matters  which  are  some- 
times discharged  from  carious  teeth,  or  from  ulcers  in  the  gums 
created  by  them,  also  the  influences  which  both  have  in  preventing 
perfect  mastication,  and  the  connection  of  the  animal  function  with 
good  health,  I cannot  help  thinking,  that  our  success  in  the  treatment 
of  all  chronic  diseases  would  be  very  much  promoted  by  directing 
our  inquiries  into  the  state  of  the  teeth  of  sick  people,  and  by  advis- 
ing their  extraction  in  every  case  in  which  they  are  decayed.  It  is 
not  necessary  that  they  should  be  attended  with  pain  in  order  to 
produce  diseases,  for  splinters,  tumors,  and  other  irritants  before 
mentioned,  often  bring  on  diseases  and  death  when  they  give  no  pain, 
nor  are  suspected  as  causes  of  them.  This  transition  of  sensation 
and  motion  to  parts  remote  from  the  place  where  impressions  are 
made,  appears  in  many  instances,  and  seems  to  depend  upon  an  ori- 
ginal law  of  the  animal  economy.”  ( Medical  Inquiries  by  Dr . 
Rush,  Yol.  I.  p.  199.) 

(43)  And  spreads  disease  with  every  pulse  that  beats. 

That  the  general  health  of  the  body  is  affected  by  the  state  of  the 
stomach  and  lungs,  is  a proposition  which  few,  if  any,  will  deny. — - 


86 


APPENDIX. 


And  that  the  condition  of  either  depends  on  the  nature  of  whatever 
is  introduced  into  it,  will  likewise  be  readily  admitted.  The  effects 
which  the  state  of  the  teeth  may  have  upon  the  lungs,  may  there- 
fore be  considered  in  the  first  place.  The  chemical  process  which 
is  carried  on  in  the  mouth,  by  means  of  its  moisture  and  heat,  will 
always,  in  a greater  or  less  degree,  cause  the  putrefaction  of  what- 
ever extraneous  matter  is  permitted  to  lodge  upon  or  between  the 
teeth.  The  air,  even  in  the  most  open  situation,  is  affected  by  pass- 
ing over  any  putrescent  substance.  Now  as  the  mouth  is  the  chief 
passage  by  which  the  air  enters  the  lungs,  and  as  the  air  is  affected 
by  whatever  it  passes  over  or  through,  the  lungs  can  never  receive  it 
in  a pure  state,  except  the  mouth,  through  which  it  is  introduced,  be 
perfectly  clean  and  healthy.  But  while  any  extraneous  matter  is 
permitted  to  accumulate  and  remain  on  the  teeth,  the  mouth  will  na- 
turally become  unclean  and  unhealthy,  imparting  an  infectious  taint 
to  the  air  which  is  inhaled. 

“ Fetid  breath  is  occasioned  by  the  state  of  the  mouth,  and  seldom 
results  from  the  condition  of  the  stomach  or  digestive  organs,  as  erro- 
neously supposed.  1 he  escape  of  vapor  from  a disordered  stomach 
can  produce  only  a temporary  effect,  but  from  uncleanliness  of  the 
mouth,  we  find  the  taint  constant  and  habitual ; and  unless  the  cause 
be  eradicated,  all  the  spices  and  perfumes  of  the  east,  though  they 
may  for  a moment  conceal,  cannot  remove  it.  Cleanliness  of  the 
mouth,  therefore,  is  of  great  importance  to  the  general  health  ; in 
fact,  the  danger  of  the  lungs  from  a constantly  putrid  effluvium  has 
been  strongly  commented  upon  by  the  faculty  of  medicine,  as  a lead- 
ing cause  of  pulmonary  consumption.”  (A.  S.  Parmly’s  Lectures.) 

“We  respire,”  says  Dr.  Fitch,  “about  twenty  thousand  times  in 
twenty-four  hours,  and  yet,  for  months  and  years,  this  vast  quantity 
of  air  is  rendered  poisonous  by  one  or  more  diseased  teeth.  How 
little  does  it  avail  an  individual,  if  by  every  possible  means  the  purity 
of  the  air  is  preserved ; if  no  impurities  are  suffered  to  remain  in  the 
streets  ; if  his  tenements  are  kept  clean,  his  apartments  ventilated  ; 
if  he  make  distant  journeys  at  a great  expense  of  time  and  money, 
for  the  benefit  of  pure  air,  and,  at  the  same  time,  carry  the  cloaca  of 
filth  in  his  own  mouth  ? If  this  state  of  the  breath,  caused  by  bad 
teeth,  so  affects  the  olfactory  nerves  of  a person  near  an  individual 
having  bad  teeth,  what  must  be  its  effect  upon  the  delicate  and  sensi- 
ble tissues  of  the  lungs  of  the  person  himself?  Nature  has  formed 
the  lungs  most  delicate  and  sensible,  and  susceptible  to  the  slight- 
est injurious  impressions : — She  has  also  finely  tempered  the  atmos- 
phere for  its  safe  and  healthy  reception  in  these  delicate  organs  ; but 
an  accident,  or  a disease,  may  render  it  impure,  unfit  for  respiration, 
and  cause  it,  instead  of  harmonizing  with  the  lungs  in  the  most  per- 
fect manner,  to  exercise  a baneful  influence,  armed  with  pestilence, 
and  scattering  the  seeds  of  disease  over  the  lungs,  thus  pouring  the 
streams  of  deadly  poison  through  every  vein  in  the  system.  The 


APPENDIX. 


87 


matter  thrown  off  from  the  teeth  in  a state  of  disease  and  putrefac- 
tion, and  also  some  states  of  diseased  gums,  is  very  acrid  in  its  nature, 
as  is  demonstrated  by  its  vitiating  the  saliva  so  much  as  to  dissolve 
and  oxydate  metals,  even  silver,  and  to  tarnish  gold.  We  know  that 
many  of  our  organs  have  the  power  of  resisting,  for  a length  of  time, 
in  a wonderful  manner,  the  effects  of  injurious  impressions  ; but  with 
the  lungs  I am  disposed  to  believe  that  even  slightly  injurious  impres- 
sions, if  continued,  will,  sooner  or  later,  prove  to  them  a cause  of 
disease  and  disorganization.”  ( Fitch  on  the  Teeth , pp.  300,  301.) 

(44)  Each  dental  malady  a thousand  ways . 

“ These  sympathetic  pains  arising  from  carious  teeth,  proceed  from 
the  intimate  connection  that  subsists  between  the  branches  of  the 
fifth  and  those  of  the  seventh  pair  of  nerves.  The  pain  in  the  ear  isr 
therefore  sympathetic,  arising  from  disease  in  the  dens  sapientiae. 
From  the  connexion  which  subsists  between  these  two  pairs  of 
nerves,  it  happens  that  not  only  inflammation  in  the  teeth  causes  a 
sympathetic  pain  in  the  ears,  but  disagreeable  and  unharmonious 
sounds  produce  a sympathetic  effect  upon  the  teeth,  and  occasion 
that  unpleasant  sensation  called  the  teeth  being  set  on  edge.”  (Fox 
on  the  Teeth , Part  II.  p.  31.) 

“ The  sympathetic  affections  to  which  the  tooth-ache  gives  rise, 
are  exceedingly  various  and  important ; though  it  is  only  of  late 
years  they  have  been  properly  understood,  and  the  attention  of  me- 
dical men  directed  to  their  true  source.  It  not  unfrequently  happens, 
that  parts  the  most  remote  become  the  apparent  seat  of  pain,  from 
the  exposure  of  the  nerve  of  a tooth.  I have  seen  this  occur,  not 
only  in  the  face,  over  the  scalp,  in  the  ear,  or  underneath  the  lower 
jaw,  but  down  the  neck,  over  the  shoulder,  and  along  the  whole  length 
of  the  arm.”  (Bell  on  the  Teeth , p.  155.) 

(45)  And  oft  the  maniac  sufferer  expires. 

“ A person  complained,”  says  Dr.  Fuller,  “ of  seemingly  violent 
spasms  in  the  head,  which  instantly  deprived  her  of  sense  and  mo- 
tion, and  she  fell  down  lifeless  for  some  time.  She  had  been  subject 
to  these  fits,  I think,  for  two  or  three  years,  but  of  late  they  had  be- 
come very  frequent;  no  pain  succeeded  them,  nor  were  they  pie- 
ceded  by  any  symptoms,  except  by  a trifling  pain  which  darted  into 
one  of  the  third  grinders  that  was  decayed  : — nor  did  she  know  what 
tooth-ache  was.  Having  seen  the  most  astonishing  effects  of  caries- 
in  these  teeth,  I recommended  the  tooth  to  be  extracted,  and  on  re- 
moving it,  she  expressed  herself  by  saying,  that  it  seemed  to  pull  up 
the  root  of  the  complaint. 


88 


APPENDIX. 


“ I have  twice  extracted  teeth  when  the  most  severe  pain  was  in 
the  elbow  ; in  both  instances,  it  was  one  of  the  large  molares  of  the 
under  jaw  ; and  in  both,  the  pain  of  the  elbow  vanished  on  remov- 
ing the  teeth.”  ( Fuller  on  the  Teeth , p.  71.) 


(46)  That  feels  the  living  impulse  of  the  heart. 


It  may  be  necessary  to  explain  briefly  the  passage  of  the  food 
through  the  alimentary  canal,  and  the  manner  in  whieh  the  chyle  is 
converted  into  blood. 

The  food  is  received  into  the  mouth,  masticated  between  the  teeth, 
imbued  with  saliva,  and  forced  through  the  constrictors  of  the  pha- 
rynx down  the  oesophagus  into  the  stomach.  It  is  then  mixed  with 
the  gastric  juice,  which  is  secreted  from  the  inner  surface  of  the 
stomach  ; and  this  is  found  to  be  the  immediate  agent  for  effecting 
the  change  that  the  food  undergoes.  A knowledge  of  no  part  of 
physiology  is  more  useful,  than  of  the  digestive  organs. 

“ The  peculiar  properties  of  gastric  juice  render  it  one  of  the 
most  powerful  productions  of  the  animal  body.  It  is  not  a simple 
dilutent,  but  a solvent ; and  has  the  power  of  breaking  down  the 
food,  and  converting  it  into  a soft,  homogeneous  paste,  known  by  the 
name  of  chyme.  So  powerful  is  its  faculty  of  solution,  that  the  hard 
bones  which  dogs  devour  cannot  resist  its  action.  It  not  only  unites 
with  and  dissolves  the  food,  but  changes  its  nature  and  composition. 
It  is  found  to  be  of  an  antiseptic  property,  and  corrects  putrescency 
instead  of  inducing  it.  After  the  food  has  been  properly  acted  upon 
by  the  gastric  juice,  it  passes  through  a muscular  contraction  of  the 
stomach,  called  the  pylorus,  into  the  duodenum.  Here  the  food  un- 
dergoes other  changes,  equally  as  important  as  those  already  pro- 
duced on  it  in  the  stomach : — it  mixes  with  the  bile  brought  by  the 
ducts  from  the  liver,  and  with  the  pancreatic  fluid  from  the  pancreas. 
Having  remained  some  time  exposed  to  the  action  of  these  fluids,  it 
is  separated  into  two  parts,  an  excrementitious,  and  a nutritious.” — 
{Richer and’ s Physiology , p.  119.) 

“ After  the  food  has  remained  a certain  time  within  the  duodenum, 
and  this  separation  taken  place,  it  proceeds  along  the  other  smaller  in- 
testines, the  jejunum  and  ilium.  By  means  of  the  peristaltic  con- 
tractions of  these  intestines,  the  nutritious  part  of  the  food  is  said  to 
be  pressed  out,  and  this  is  taken  up  by  the  inhalent  mouths  of  the 
lacteals.  The  alimentary  mass  parts  gradually  with  its  nutritive  par- 
ticles, and  passes  from  the  small  into  the  large  intestines,  the  caecum, 
the  colon,  and  rectum. 

“ The  nutritious  part  of  the  food  taken  up  by  the  lacteals,  is  con- 
veyed by  different  branches  into  the  thoracic  duct,  and  thence  into 
the  left  subclavian  vein,  where  it  mixes  with  the  blood  brought  back 
from  the  upper  extremities.  The  subclavian  vein  terminates  in  the 


APPENDIX. 


89 


vena  cava,  and  this  in  the  right  auricle  of  the  heart.’’  The  reason 
for  the  chyle  entering  the  blood  in  the  subclavian  vein  is  explained  as 
follows,  by  Dr.  Paley  “ The  chyle  enters  the  blood  in  an  odd  place, 
but  perhaps  the  most  commodious  place  possible,  viz.,  at  a large  vein 
in  the  neck,  so  situated  with  respect  to  the  circulation,  as  speedily  to 
bring  the  mixture  to  the  heart.  And  this  seems  to  be  of  great  mo- 
ment ; for  had  the  chyle  entered  the  blood  at  an  artery,  or  at  a dist- 
ant vein,  the  fluid  composed  of  the  old  and  new  materials  must  have 
performed  a considerable  part  of  the  circulation,  before  it  received 
that  churning  in  the  lungs  which  is  probably  necessary  for  the  inti- 
mate and  perfect  union  of  the  old  blood  with  the  recent  chyle.” 
(Paley’ s Natural  Theology.) 

“ It  is  now  necessary  that  this  new  venous  blood,  which  is  of  a 
dark  color,  should  undergo  changes  indispensable  to  life.  The  right 
auricle  contracting,  the  blood  is  propelled  into  the  right  ventricle, 
and  from  the  ventricle  it  is  farther  forced  through  the  pulmonary 
artery  into  the  lungs.  While  circulating  through  them,  it  is  exposed 
in  the  air  cells  to  the  atmospheric  air  taken  in  during  respiration  : — 
a change  takes  place  ; the  blood  becomes  of  a florid  red  color,  sub- 
servient to  the  principles  of  life,  and  is  returned  by  the  pulmonary 
veins  into  the  left  auricle  of  the  heart ; and  passing  from  them  into 
the  left  ventricle,  this  ventricle  contracts  and  propels  the  blood,  by 
means  of  the  aorta,  to  all  parts  of  the  body. 

44  Different  opinions  are  entertained  of  the  change  which  the  blood 
undergoes  in  the  lungs.  Some  physiologists  imagine  that  it  receives 
oxygen  from  the  air  : others  that  it  gives  offits  superabundant  carbon, 
and  that  the  air  is  expired  as  carbonic  acid  gas.  It  is  here  sufficient 
to  state,  that  the  change  is  necessary  to  life,  and  that  the  blood  sent 
to  the  lungs  is  of  a dark  color,  while  that  which  returns  from  them 
is  a florid  red,  subservient  to  the  functions  of  the  animal  economy.” 
( Waite’s  Manual , 1826,  p.  70.) 


(47)  May  rise  terrific  from  that  single  source ! 

“ Mechanical  trituration  is  not  the  only  change  that  the  food  under- 
goes in  the  mouth.  Subjected  to  the  action  of  the  organs  of  masti- 
cation, which  overcome  the  force  of  cohesion  of  its  molecules,  it  is 
at  the  same  period  imbued  with  saliva.  This  fluid,  secreted  by  glands 
placed  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mouth,  is  poured  in  considerable  quanti- 
ty into  that  cavity  during  mastication. 

“ The  saliva  is  a transparent  and  viscous  fluid,  formed  of  about 
four  parts  of  water  and  one  of  albumen,  in  which  are  dissolved  phos- 
phate of  lime,  of  soda,  and  of  ammonia,  as  well  as  a quantity[of  muri- 
ate of  soda.  Like  all  other  albuminous  fluids,  it  froths  when  agita- 
ted, by  absorbing  oxygen,  for  which  it  appears  to  have  a strong  affi- 
nity. Its  affinity  for  oxygen  is  such,  that  we  may  oxydize  gold  and 
12 


90 


APPENDIX. 


silver  by  triturating  in  saliva,  thin  leaves  of  these  metals,  which  are 
of  such  difficult  oxydizement.  The  irritation  occasioned  by  the  pre- 
sence or  desire  of  food,  and  by  mastication,  excites  the  salivary 
glands,  which  swell  and  become  so  many  centres  of  fluxion,  towards 
which  the  humours  flow  abundantly. 

“ It  is  estimated  that  about  six  ounces  of  saliva  are  secreted  during 
the  average  time  of  a meal.  It  flows  in  greater  quantity  when  the 
food  is  acrid  and  stimulating.  It  mixes  with  the  mucus  copiously  se- 
creted from  the  glands,  and  with  the  serous  fluids  exhaled  by  the  ex- 
halent  arteries  of  the  mouth.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  saliva, 
mixing  with  the  food  by  the  motion  of  the  jaws,  absorbs  oxygen,  and 
unites  to  the  alimentary  substances  a quantity  of  that  gas  fit  to  bring 
about  the  changes  they  are  ultimately  destined  to  undergo.”  {Ri- 
cherand's  Physiology , p.  96.) 

(48J  Nor  asks  a staff  to  guide  him  to  the  grave . 

The  following  judicious  observations,  made  nearly  two  centuries 
ago,  will  serve  to  convince  the  reader  that  the  opinions  sustained  irr 
this  volume  are  neither  new  nor  singular. 

The  terrible  pains  and  diseases  of  the  teeth  do  chiefly  proceed 
from  two  causes.  The  first  is  from  certain  filthy  phlegmy  matter 
which  the  stomach  and  vessels  do  continually  breathe  and  send  forth, 
which  does  lodge  or  centre  in  the  mouth,  especially  between  the 
teeth,  and  on  the  gums  ; and  some  people  having  louler  stomachs 
than  others,  such  do  breathe  forth  very  sour,  stinking,  phlegmy  mat- 
ter, which  does  not  only  increase  the  pain,  but  causeth  the  teeth  to 
become  loose  and  rotten.  And  for  want  of  continual  cleansing  and 
washing,  those  breathings  and  this  phlegmy  matter  turns  to  putre- 
faction, which  does  eat  away  the  gums,  as  though  worms  hod  eaten 
them.  And  this  defect  is  generally  attributed  to  the  disease  called 
the  scurvy  ; but  it  is  a mistake  : the  cause  is  chiefly,  as  is  mentioned 
before,  from  the  stomach,  or  for  want  of  cleansing. 

“ This  distemper  of  the  teeth  and  gums  does  also  proceed  from 
the  various  sorts  of  meats  and  drinks,  and  more  especially  from  the 
continual  eating  of  flesh,  and  fat  sweet  things,  compounded  of  various 
things  of  disagreeing  natures,  that  do  not  only  obstruct  the  stomach 
but  fur  and  foul  the  mouth,  part  thereof  remaining  upon  the  gums, 
and  between  the  teeth.  For  all  such  things  do  quickly  turn  to  putre- 
faction, which  does  by  degrees  corrupt  both  the  teeth  and  gums. 
Besides,  our  beds  take  up  near  half  the  time  of  our  lives,  which  time 
the  body  is  not  only  without  motion,  but  the  bed  and  coverings  do 
keep  it  much  hotter  than  the  day-garments,  especially  of  those  that 
draw  the  curtains  of  their  windows  and  beds  so  close,  that  the  pure 
spirits  and  thin  refreshing  vapors  of  the  air  are  hindered  of  having 
their  free  egress  and  regress,  which  does  dull  and  flatten  the  action  of 


APPENDIX. 


91 


the  stomach ; and  this  is  the  chief  cause  why  suppers  lie  hard  in  the 
stomach,  and  require  more  than  double  the  time  for  perfect  concoc- 
tion, that  the  same  food  does  when  a man  is  up  and  in  open  air  : for 
this  element,  if  it  hath  its  free  influence,  is  sucked  in,  as  by  sponges, 
through  all  the  pores  of  the  body,  and  does  wonderfully  refresh,  com- 
fort, open  and  cleanse  all  the  parts,  having  power  to  assist  and  help 
concoction  : but  hot,  dull,  thick  airs,  do  destroy  the  action  of  the  sto- 
mach, and  as  it  were  suffocate  the  pure  spirits,  drying  up  and  con- 
suming the  radical  moisture.  Therefore  the  night  does  foul  the 
mouth  more  than  the  day,  furring  it  with  a gross  slimy  matter,  espe- 
cially those  that  have  foul  stomachs,  and  are  in  years,  which  ought  to 
be  well  cleansed  every  morning. 

“ Whatsoever  are  the  disorders  in  the  body,  the  mouth  does  al- 
ways partake  of  them  ; besides  the  evils  that  the  variety  of  food,  and 
the  improper  mixtures  of  flesh  and  fish,  and  many  other  things,  which 
do  foul  and  hurt  both  the  teeth  and  gums.  When  any  person  is  dis- 
ordered with  inward  diseases,  does  not  the  mouth  quickly  complain 
of  the  evils  thereof?  This  very  few  consider  in  time. 

“ It  is  to  be  noted,  that  most  people  do  attribute  the  diseases  of  the 
teeth  to  colds,  and  rheums,  and  other  outward  accidents.  It  is  true, 
outward  accidents  will  further  this  disease,  but  then  there  must  be 
matter  beforehand,  otherwise  outward  colds  can  have  no  power  to 
cause  this  pain.  The  same  is  to  be  understood  in  all  stoppages  of 
the  breast,  and  other  obstructions,  as  coughs,  and  the  like.  For,  if 
any  part  be  obstructed,  or  there  be  matter  for  distemper,  then,  on 
every  small  occasion  of  outward  colds,  or  like  accidents,  nature  com- 
plains. If  your  teeth  and  gums  be  sound,  and  free  from  this  matter, 
take  what  colds  you  will,  and  your  teeth  will  never  complain,  as  daily 
experience  doth  show.  For  all  outward  colds,  and  other  accidents 
of  the  like  nature,  have  no  power  to  seize  any  part  of  the  body,  ex- 
cept first  there  be  some  inward  defect  or  infirmity : suppose  the 
teeth  be  defective,  then  the  disease  falls  on  that  part ; or  if  it  be  the 
head,  eyes,  breast,  back,  or  any  other  part  or  member  of  the  body 
that  is  obstructed,  the  evil  is  felt  in  that  part.  Therefore  if  the  mouth 
be  kept  clean  by  continual  washings,  it  will  prevent  all  matter  which 
may  cause  putrefaction : and  then  colds,  and  the  like  accidents,  will 
have  no  power  to  seize  this  part,  or  cause  this  terrible  pain.  Even 
so  it  is  in  all  other  parts  of  the  body.  If  temperance  and  sobriety 
be  observed  in  meats,  drinks,  and  exercises,  with  other  circumstances 
belonging  to  health,  then  stoppages,  coughs,  colds,  and  other  obstruc- 
tions, would  not  be  so  frequent  on  everv  small  occasion  ; for  tempe- 
rance has  an  inward  power  and  operation,  and  does  as  it  were  cut 
off  diseases  in  the  very  bud,  preventing  the  generation  of  matter 
whence  distempers  do  proceed,  increasing  the  radical  moisture,  and 
making  the  spirits  lively,  brisk,  and  powerful,  able  to  withstand  all 
outward  colds,  and  other  casualties  of  the  like  nature. 

“ There  are  many  various  things,  of  divers  natures,  prescribed  by 


92 


APPENDIX. 


physicians  and  others,  as  washes  to  preserve  the  teeth  and  gums ; 
but  most  of  them,  if  not  all,  to  little  or  no  purpose,  as  daily  expe- 
rience teaches:  for  all  high,  sharp  salts,  and  things  of  a sour  or  keen 
nature,  do  rather  cause  the  teeth  to  perish,  than  the  contrary  ; as  do 
all  hot  spirits,  be  they  what  they  will : many  have  destroyed  their 
teeth  by  the  frequent  use  of  such  things,  and  it  hath  hardly  ever  been 
known  that  such  things  have  ever  cured  or  prevented  the  aching 
pains  of  the  teeth,  but  water  only.  Many  examples  I could  mention, 
if  it  were  convenient.  Physicians  and  others  do  daily  prescribe 
such  things  for  the  cure  and  prevention  of  this  disease  of  the  teeth, 
which  most  of  them  do  know  by  experience  can  do  no  good,  but 
rather  the  contrary : but  when  people  come  to  them,  they  must  give 
them  something  for  their  money  ; for  interest  and  ignorance  have 
more  affinity  with  this  sort  of  people  than  virtue,  and  the  true  know- 
ledge of  the  nature  of  things.  Most  certain  it  is,  that  the  shepherd 
and  husbandman  do  know  far  better  how  to  prepare  the  meat  for 
their  cattle,  and  also  how  to  preserve  them  from  disorders,  than  many 
physicians  do  their  food  or  physic  : and  a man  shall  understand  more 
by  conversing  with  this  sort  of  people,  than  with  the  learned : for 
the  shepherd  and  husbandman  understand  something  of  nature  ; but 
most  of  the  learned  are  departed  from  the  simple  ways  of  God  in 
nature,  putting  out  their  own  eyes,  and  then  boasting  what  wonders 
they  can  see  with  other  men’s:  they  have  invented  many  words  to 
hide  the  truth  from  the  unlearned,  that  they  may  get  the  greater  es- 
teem. This  hath  chiefly  been  done  to  advance  pride  and  interest ; 
so  that  the  divine  eye  is  departed  from  many  of  them,  who  never 
make  any  inspection  into  the  true  nature  of  things,  being  contented 
to  take  other  men’s  words,  let  it  be  right  or  wrong,  as  long  as  they 
have  authority  and  law  on  their  sides,  wherefore  should  they  trouble 
their  weak  heads  ? 

“ The  best  and  most  sure  way  to  prevent  the  diseases  and  pains 
in  the  teeth  and  gums,  is  every  morning  to  wash  your  mouth  with  at 
the  least  ten  or  twelve  mouthfuls  of  pure  water,  cold  from  the  spring 
or  river,  and  so  again  after  dinner  and  supper,  swallowing  down  a 
mouthful  of  water  after  each  washing ; for  there  is  no  sort  of  liquor 
in  the  world  so  pure  and  clean  as  water  ; and  nothing  doth  cleanse 
and  free  the  teeth  and  gums  from  that  foul  matter  which  does  pro- 
ceed from  the  breathings  and  purgings  of  the  stomach,  and  from  the 
various  sorts  of  food,  so  well  as  water ; the  use  of  other  washes  is  to 
little  or  no  purpose ; but  whosoever  do  constantly  wash  their  mouths 
with  water,  as  is  before  mentioned,  shall  find  an  essential  remedy. — 
All  hard  rubbing  and  picking  of  the  teeth  ought  by  any  means  to  be 
avoided,  for  that  is  injurious  to  them.  Also  whensoever  you  find 
your  mouth  foul,  or  subject  to  be  slimy,  as  sometimes  it  will  more  than 
at  others,  according  to  the  good  or  evil  state  of  the  stomach,  though 
it  be  not  after  eating ; at  all  such  times  you  ought  to  wash  your 
mouth.  This  rule  all  mothers  and  nurses  ought  to  observe,  washing 


APPENDIX. 


93 


the  mouths  of  their  children  two  or  three  times  a day  ; and  also  to 
cause  their  chi'dren  to  swallow  down  a little  water,  which  will  be 
very  refreshing  to  their  stomachs.  For  milk  does  naturally  foul  and 
fur  the  mouth  and  teeth,  and  if  they  be  not  kept  clean  by  continual 
washing,  it  causes  the  breeding  of  children’s  teeth  to  be  the  more 
painful  to  them. 

“ Few  there  be  that  understand  or  consider  the  excellent  virtues 
of  water,  it  being  an  element  of  a mild  and  cleansing  nature  and  ope- 
ration, friendly  unto  all  things,  and  of  universal  use : but  because  it 
is  so  common,  and  so  easily  procured,  I am  afraid  that  many  people 
will  be  like  Naaman  the  Syrian,  when  the  prophet  Elisha  advised 
him  to  wash  seven  times  in  the  river  of  Jordan  to  cure  his  leprosy  ; 
it  being  the  ignorance  and  folly  of  most  people,  to  admire  those 
things  they  do  not  know,  and,  on  the  other  side,  to  despise  and  tram- 
ple under  foot  those  things  and  mysteries  they  do  know ; which  the 
learned  in  all  ages  have  taken  notice  of : for,  should  some  people 
know  what  apothecaries  and  others  give  them,  they  would  despise 
the  physic,  and  have  but  little  respect  for  their  doctor. 

“ All  housewives  do  know,  that  no  sort  of  liquor,  be  it  what  it  will, 
will  cleanse  and  sweeten  their  vessels,  but  only  v/ater;  all  other 
liquors  leaving  a sour  stinking  quality  behind  them,  which  will  quickly 
cause  putrefaction  : but  water  in  its  own  nature  is  clean  and  pure, 
not  only  for  all  uses  in  housewifery,  and  the  preservation  of  health  ; 
but  the  saints  and  holy  men  of  God  have  highly  esteemed  this  ele- 
ment, by  using  it  in  the  exterior  acts  of  divine  worship,  as  having  a 
simile  with  the  Eternal  water  of  life,  that  does  purify  and  cleanse  the 
soul  from  sin.  (Try on’s  Way  to  Health,  pp.  17 — 21.) 

(49)  Reveals  the  glories  of  her  kindred  sky . 


“ If  the  great  distinctive  attribute  of  man  be  the  faculty  of  speech, 
that  speech  can  never  be  complete  or  perfect,  without  two  arches  of 
teeth  to  modulate  the  sound,  and  give  proper  utterance  to  the  words. 
Indeed  it  is  obvious  to  every  one,  that  when  the  teeth  are  lost,  the 
speech  becomes  imperfect,  and  often  scarcely  intelligible. 

*•  This  circumstance  makes  them  valuable  beyond  measure  to  a 
public  speaker,  and  their  preservation  ought  to  meet  due  attention 
from  those  who  wish  to  shine,  either  in  the  senate,  at  the  bar,  or  in  the 
pulpit. 

“ Without  these  instruments  of  utterance,  the  graces  of  eloquence 
are  lost,  and  the  power  of  impressing  the  mind  and  convincing  the 
understanding,  if  not  destroyed,  is  considerably  diminished.”  (L.  S. 
Parmhfs  Lectures,  p.  42.) 

“ Health  is  so  necessary  to  all  the  duties,  as  well  as  pleasures  of 
life,  that  the  crime  of  squandering  it  is  equal  to  the  folly  ; and  he  that 
for  a short  gratification  brings  weakness  and  diseases  upon  himself* 


94 


APPENDIX. 


and  for  the  pleasure  of  a few  years,  condemns  the  maturer  and  more 
experienced  part  of  his  life  to  the  chamber  and  the  couch,  may  be 
justly  reproached,  not  only  as  a spendthrift  of  his  own  happiness,  but 
a3  a robber  of  the  public, — as  a wretch  that  has  voluntarily  disquali- 
fied himself  for  the  business  of  his  station,  and  refused  that  part 
which  Providence  assigns  him  in  the  general  task  of  human  nature.” 
(Dr.  Johnson.) 

“ Health,  I conceive,  is  often  maintained  at  the  expense  of  that 
vital  power,  which,  in  a more  natural  state,  would  have  carried  us  to 
age.”  ( Tkackrah .) 

“ The  old  man  who  has  preserved  his  teeth  in  good  condition,  is 
much  less  frail  than  be  who  has  lost  them  early  by  inattention.  The 
youth  who  is  well  endowed  by  nature  in  this  particular,  promises  to 
lead  a life  more  vigorous,  than  he  whose  teeth  have  prematurely  de- 
cayed.” ( Gerhaux , p.  20.) 

On  the  subject  of  a happy  old  age,  produced  by  sobriety,  we  find 
the  following  account  in  the  writings  of  Addison.  {Spectator , Vol. 
III.  No.  195.) 

“ The  most  remarkable  instance  of  the  efficacy  of  temperance, 
towards  the  procuring  long  life,  is  what  we  meet  with  in  a little  book 
published  by  Lewis  Cornaro  the  Venetian  ; which  I the  rather  men- 
tion, because  it  is  of  undoubted  credit,  as  the  late  Venetian  ambas- 
sador who  was  of  the  same  family,  attested  more  than  once  in  con- 
versation, when  he  was  in  England.  Cornaro,  who  was  the  author  of 
the  little  treatise  1 am  mentioning,  was  of  an  infirm  constitution  till 
about  forty,  when,  by  obstinately  persisting  in  an  exact  course  of 
temperance,  he  recovered  a perfect  state  of  health  ; insomuch  that 
at  four  score  he  published  a book  which  has  been  translated  into  En- 
glish under  the  title  of  “ Sure  and  Certain  Methods  of  obtaining  a 
Long  and  Healthy  Life.”  He  lived  to  give  a third  and  fourth  edi- 
tion of  it ; and  after  having  passed  his  hundredth  year,  died  without 
pain  or  agony,  and  like  one  who  falls  asleep.  The  treatise  I men- 
tion has  been  taken  notice  of  by  several  eminent  authors,  and  is  writ- 
ten with  such  a spirit  of  cheerfulness,  religion,  and  good  sense,  as  are 
the  natural  accompaniments  of  temperance  and  sobriety.  The  mix- 
ture of  the  old  man  in  it,  is  rather  a recommendation  than  a discredit 
to  it.” 

The  work  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Addison  has  been  recently  repub- 
lished in  this  city  by  Mr.  Graham,  lecturer  on  health  and  longevity, 
who  has  prefixed  to  the  neat  little  volume  the  following  remarks : — 

“ After  an  experiment  of,  at  least,  six  thousand  years,  man  knows 
about  as  little  how  to  live,  as  he  did  in  the  infant  period  of  the  world. 
Indeed,  there  is  no  subject  that  demands  the  exercise  of  human  in- 
tellect, which  is  more  intricate  and  difficult  to  understand,  than  is  the 
science  of  human  life.  And  yet  the  popular  opinion  is,  that  every 
man  can  ascertain  by  his  own  experience  what  is  best  for  him,  and 
how  he  ought  to  live : and  that  no  general  rule  can  be  laid  down, 


APPENDIX 


95 


which  will  be  equally  suitable  to  all  mankind,  because  there  are  dif- 
ferences of  constitution,  and  temperament , and  predisposition , &c, 
‘ Some,’  it  is  said,  ‘ with  great  regularity  of  habits,  and  temperance 
in  diet,  enjoy  good  health  and  live  to  great  age,  while  others,  pursu- 
ing the  same  course,  are  always  sickly,  and  die  young;  and  on  the 
other  hand,  some,  with  great  irregularity  and  intemperance,  enjoy 
health  and  live  to  become  very  old.  Therefore,  what  is  best  for  one 
man  may  not  be  for  another,  and,  consequently,  it  would  be  impossi- 
ble to  prescribe  any  mode  of  living  which  would  be  suitable  to  all 
constitutions  and  circumstances.” 

“ This  reasoning  certainly  has  the  aspect  of  plausibility,  to  such  as 
take  but  a very  hasty  and  superficial  view  of  the  subject.  But  surely? 
if  we  will  honestly  investigate  this  matter  with  a candid  and  truly 
inquiring  mind,  we  shall  see  things  very  differently,  and  be  led  to  very 
different  conclusions.  We  shall  then  find  the  true  statements  to  be 
these : — 

“ All  men,  with  a good  natural  constitution,  who  are  regular  in 
their  habits  and  temperate  in  their  diet,  and  in  other  respects  correct, 
as  a general  rule,  enjoy  health,  and  live  to  old  age ; but  some  men 
with  a feeble  constitution  and  diseased  body,  though  regular  and 
careful  in  their  habits,  and  temperate,  but  not  always  judicious  in 
their  diet,  are  delicate  and  sickly  all  their  lives  and  die  early,  or  be- 
fore they  attain  to  old  age;  and  would  have  suffered  much  more  and 
died  much  sooner,  had  they  been  irregular  and  intemperate  : — while 
on  the  other  hand,  some  men,  with  a remarkably  good  and  vigorous 
constitution,  and  many  of  whose  habtis  are  conducive  to  health  and 
longevity,  enjoy  a considerable  degree  of  health  and  attain  to  great 
age,  in  spite  of  their  irregularities  and  intemperance:  nevertheless, 
most  persons  who  are  irregular  and  intemperate  became  diseased 
early,  and  die  before  they  reach  old  age,  or  even  the  meridian  of 
life.”  ( Introduction  to  Cornaro  by  Sylvester  Graham , New  York,  1833, 
178  pages  18mo.) 

The  following  passages  are  taken  from  Cornaro’s  work. 

“ Oh  holy  and  truly  happy  regularity  ! How  holy  and  happy  should 
men  in  fact,  deem  thee,  since  the  opposite  habit  is  the  cause  of  such 
guilt  and  misery  ! so  that  men  should  know  thee  by  thy  voice  alone,  and 
thy  lovely  name  ; for,  what  a glorious  name,  what  a noble  thing,  is 
an  orderly  and  sober  life.” 

“ I will  give  an  account  of  my  recreations  and  the  relish  which  I 
find  at  this  stage  of  life,  in  order  to  convince  the  public  that  the  state 
I have  now  attained  is  by  no  means  death,  but  real  life.  They  will 
see,  not  without  the  greatest  astonishment,  the  good  state  of  health 
and  spirits  I enjoy  ; how  1 mount  my  horse  without  any  assistance  or 
advantage  of  situation ; and  how  I not  only  ascend  a single  flight  of 
stairs,  but  climb  up  a hill  from  bottom  to  top,  afoot,  and  with  the 
greatest  ease  and  unconcern;  then  how  gay,  pleasant,  and  good  hu- 
mored I am : how  free  from  every  perturbation  of  mind  ; and  every 


96 


APPENDIX. 


disagreeable  thought ; in  lieu  of  which,  joy  and  peace  have  so  firmly 
their  residence  in  my  bosom,  as  never  to  depart  from  it.  I contrive 
to  spend  every  hour  of  life  with  the  greatest  delight  and  pleasure, 
having  frequent  opportunities  of  conversing  with  many  honorable 
gentlemen ; then  1 betake  myself  to  reading  some  good  book,  and 
when  I have  read  so  much  as  I like,  I write ; endeavoring  in  this  as 
in  every  thing  else,  to  be  of  service  to  others  to  the  utmost  of  my 
power. 

“ Besides  this,  I have  my  several  gardens  supplied  with  running 
water,  and  in  which  I always  find  something  to  do  that  amuses  me. 

“Nor  are  my  recreations  rendered  less  agreeable  and  entertaining 
by  my  not  seeing  well,  and  not  hearing  readily  every  thing  that  is 
said  to  me  ; or  by  any  other  of  mv  faculties  not  being  perfect,  for 
they  are  all,  tlianx  God,  in  the  highest  perfection,  particularly  my 
palate,  which  now  relishes  better  the  simple  fare  I eat,  wherever  I 
happen  to  be,  than  it  formerly  did  the  most  delicate  dishes,  when  I 
led  an  irregular  life. 

“And  if  it  be  lawful  to  compare  little  matters,  and  such  as  are  es- 
teemed trifling,  to  affairs  of  importance,  1 will  farther  venture  to  say, 
that  such  are  the  effects  of  this  sober  life,  that  at  my  present  age  of 
eighty-three,  I have  been  able  to  write  a very  entertaining  comedy, 
abounding  with  innocent  mirth  and  pleasant  jests. 

“ Such  are  some  of  the  recreations  of  my  old  age.” 

To  this  latter  passage  Mr.  Graham  appends  the  following  note  : — 

“ Gentle  reader  1 art  thou  still  in  early  life,  and  dost  thou  sometimes 
contemplate  old  age  as  necessarily  a state  of  feebleness,  and  decrepi- 
tude, and  gloom  1 Or,  art  thou  already  what  the  young  call  old, 
and  dost  thou  feel  thyself  entering  into  the  dreary  winter  of  thy 
bodily  existence  ? Seest  thou  nothing  but  weakness,  and  infirmities, 
and  the  last  waning  of  life’s  flickering  light,  in  the  prospect  before 
thee  ? Seems  thy  unjovous  way  downward  into  the  vale  of  death 
covered  with  a mist  whose  density  increases  as  thou  descendest, 
wrapping  thee  in  deeper  and  yet  deeper  gloom,  and  blearing  thy 
vision,  and  taking  away  thy  other  senses  by  slow,  but  yet  too  pain- 
fully perceptible  degrees ; and  shutting  thee  up  to  the  solitary  con- 
sciousness of  exhausted  power  and  approaching  death  ? And  with 
such  prospect  before  thee,  and  in  such  a state,  art  thou  incredulous 
when  the  venerable  Cornaro  tells  of  the  comforts  and  the  cheerfulness 
of  his  green  old  age  ? Does  it  seem  to  thee  impossible  that  at  the 
age  of  ninety  or  a hundred  years,  a man  should  have  that  health, 
and  vigor,  and  vivacity,  and  cheerfulness,  and  increased  enjoyment, 
of  which  Cornaro  speaks  ? 

“Doubt  not,  beloved  reader!  but  be  assured,  if  thou  wilt  live  the 
life  of  the  righteous,  thou  shalt  reap  this  reward.  Wrong  not  thy 
body  nor  thy  soul ! Obey  the  laws  of  life  ! Live  as  thou  shouidst, 
in  harmony  with  the  universal  and  inflexible  government  of  God, 
established  constitutionally  in  the  great  system  of  nature’s  law's,  and 


APPENDIX. 


97 


thou  shalt  experience  the  health,  the  serenity,  the  peace,  the  cheer- 
fulness, the  happiness,  and  even  the  raptures  of  Cornaro  ! And  when 
thy  life  is  spent,  and  thou  art  called  to  make  thy  exit  from  this  chang- 
ing scene,  thou  shalt  walk  erect  in  patriarchal  manliness,  like  Moses, 
to  the  mountain  top,  with  vision  unimpaired,  and  scarce  diminished 
strength,  and  there,  in  the  glorious  prospect  of  a better  world,  thy 
God  himself  will  spread  thy  death- bed  for  thee,  and  take  thee  to 
himself  without  a pain. !” 

I cannot  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  making  one  more  extract 
from  Cornaro,  touching  the  influence  of  sobriety  on  the  religious 
hopes  of  man. 

“ I must  farther  add,”  says  this  good  old  man,  “ though  it  may 
appear  impossible  to  some,  that,  at  this  age,  I enjoy  at  once  two 
lives : one  terrestrial,  which  I possess  in  fact  ; the  other  celestial, 
which  I possess  in  thought : and  this  thought  is  equal  to  actual  en- 
joyment, when  founded  upon  things  we  are  sure  to  attain,  as  I am 
sure  to  attain  that  celestial  life,  through  the  infinite  goodness  and 
mercy  of  God.  Thus,  I enjoy  this  terrestrial  life,  in  consequence  of 
my  sobriety  and  temperance,  virtues  so  agreeable  to  the  Deity ; and 
1 enjoy  by  the  grace  of  the  same  divine  Majesty,  the  celestial,  which 
He  makes  me  anticipate  in  thought : — a thought  so  lively,  as  to  fix 
me  entirely  on  this  object,  the  enjoyment  of  which  I hold  and  affirm 
to  be  the  utmost  certainty.  And  I hold  that  dying  in  the  manner  I 
expect  is  not  really  death,  but  a passage  of  the  soul  from  this  earthly 
life  to  a celestial,  immortal,  and  infinitely  perfect  existence.  Neither 
can  it  be  otherwise  : — and  this  thought  is  so  superlatively  sublime,  that 
it  can  no  longer  stoop  to  low  and  wordly  objects,  such  as  the  death 
of  this  body,  being  entirely  taken  up  with  the  happiness  of  living  a 
celestial  and  divine  life  ; whence  it  is  that  I enjoy  two  lives.  Nor 
can  the  termination  of  so  high  a gratification  as  I enjoy  in  this  life, 
give  me  any  concern : it  rather  affords  me  infinite  pleasure,  as  it 
will  be  only  to  make  room  for  another  glorious  and  immortal  life.” 


CONCLUSION. 


Having  appended  to  the  poem  such  notes  as  my  leisure  for  several 
months  past  has  enabled  me  to  select,  I feel  it  necessary  to  remark, 
that  although  on  many  of  the  subjects  discussed,  the  notes  are  not  so 
full  nor  so  illustrative  as  I could  have  wished,  yet  they  are  the  best 
that  my  limited  opportunity  would  permit  me  to  select.  A very  la- 
borious profession,  in  connexion  with  other  duties,  has  completely 
13 


98 


APPENDIX. 


engrossed  that  time  which  I would  have  gladly  devoted  to  this  ob- 
ject, and  at  some  future  day  I hope  to  be  enabled  to  do  greater  jus- 
tice to  a subject  that  demands  the  attentive  consideration  of  every 
individual.  The  most  useful  advice  with  which  I can  conclude  these 
remarks  is,  to  urge  on  every  individual  the  necessity  of  aiming  at 
the  prevention  of  disease  altogether,  which  can  in  a great  measure 
be  effected  without  engrossing  more  time  than  its  importance  merits. 

This  is  a subject  which  demands  the  attention  of  parents,  and 
those  who  are  entrusted  with  the  care  of  children.  It  should  be  the 
first  object  of  every  person  so  situated,  to  habituate  children  to  clean 
their  teeth,  at  least  twice  a day,  and  when  this  practice  has  been 
once  adopted,  it  will  be  continued  as  a matter  of  course.  Besides 
this,  from  the  age  of  six  to  twelve  years  in  particular,  a dentist 
should  be  consulted  three  or  four  times  a year,  and  at  a later  period, 
once  or  twice  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the  teeth,  and  counter- 
acting, by  the  timely  removal  of  such  causes  as  may  produce  dis- 
ease, any  mischief  which  is  likely  to  take  place. 

In  London  and  Paris,  and  I believe  in  all  the  larger  cities  of  Eu- 
rope, the  principal  academies  and  boarding  schools  are  regularly 
attended  by  dentists,  for  the  purpose  of  having  the  children’s  teeth 
examined,  and  of  performing  such  operations  as  they  may  require 
when  necessary,  I should  be  glad  to  see  this  plan  more  universally 
adopted  in  our  large  cities,  for  I am  convinced  the  advantages  arising 
from  it  are  incalculable  ; for  if  proper  care  and  attention  be  not  paid 
during  the  time  teeth  are  shedding,  a countenance,  however  naturally 
beautiful,  may,  in  consequence,  be  totally  disfigured ; and  it  fre- 
quently happens,  that  an  unpleasing  countenance,  although  united  to 
an  amiable  mind,  produces  a dislike  that  is  not  easily  overcome. — 
“ It  is,  therefore,  (says  Mr.  Murphy),  a duty  incumbent  on  parents, 
and  those  who  have  the  care  and  education  of  youth,  while  they  do 
justice  to  their  minds,  not  to  overlook  their  personal  advantages.” 

“ No  face,  however  pleasing  and  prepossessing,  can  ever  be  com- 
plete in  its  attraction,  where  the  mouth  is  disfigured.  However  wor- 
thy of  admiration  by  natural  symmetry,  a still  and  silent  counte- 
nance may  be,  we  at  once  lose  the  grateful  impression  when  a dis- 
closure of  bad  teeth  is  made  by  the  influence  of  any  excitement. — 
The  circumstance  either  attaches  disgrace  to  the  individual,  for  pre- 
sent want  of  cleanliness,  or  to  its  parents  or  nurse,  for  past  neglect. 
Even  the  laugh,  the  test  of  good  humor  and  openness,  which  invites 
to  cordiality  and  confidence,  fails  to  produce  a reciprocal  effect  when 
we  are  disgusted  by  a foul  mouth.”  ( L . & Parmh/s  Lectures , p.  44.) 

I have  thus  adduced  several  arguments,  in  order  to  impress  upon 
the  minds  of  my  readers  the  importance  of  my  subject,  as  far  as  it 
relates  to  an  early  and  attentive  care  in  the  management  of  the  teeth. 
No  fact  that  I have  brought  forward  can  be  considered  in  the  slight- 
est degree  exaggerated,  for  it  will  be  supported  by  the  feelings  of 
every  individual  that  reflects  upon  it.  If,  from  what  has  been  said, 


APPENDIX. 


99 


the  subject  shall  meet  due  weight,  I shall  have  performed  a duty 
highly  pleasing  to  myself,  from  a consciousness  of  having  pointed 
out  the  right  way,  which,  if  practised,  will  not  only  add  to  happiness 
and  comfort,  by  a freedom  from  pain  and  other  inconveniences,  but 
also  to  the  improvement  of  personal  appearance  at  every  age  of 
life. 

The  commencement  of  disease  is  too  generally  looked  upon  as  a 
matter  of  little  importance ; and  thus,  but  few  persons  take  any  no- 
tice of  its  progress,  until  the  agonizing  pain  of  tooth-ache  forces  it 
upon  their  consideration  ; and  when  the  disease  has  been  permitted 
to  extend  itself  so  far,  it  seldom  happens  that  it  can  be  effectually 
remedied  by  any  other  means  than  extraction  ; but  as  it  is  not  al- 
ways in  the  power  of  every  individual  to  have  recourse  to  a dentist 
on  the  hrst  attack  of  tooth- ache,  the  patient  may  possibly  obtain  a 
temporary  relief  by  applying  to  the  diseased  tooth  a strong  solution 
of  camphor  in  spirits  of  wine,  which  if  it  prove  not  altogether  suc- 
cessful, has  at  least  the  advantage  of  safety,  and  this  is  much  more 
than  can  be  said  of  most  of  the  celebrated  remedies.  Every  ex- 
treme of  heat  and  cold  should  be  avoided,  as  both  are  equally  liable 
to  cause  pain  in  the  teeth.  Attention  to  cleanliness  of  the  teeth  in 
early  life  cannot  sufficiently  be  insisted  on,  since  it  is  evident  that 
most  of  their  diseases  arise  from  extraneous  matter  being  suffered 
to  remain  upon  them ; and  no  time,  therefore,  should  be  lost,  in  re- 
moving whatever  has  accumulated  as  soon  as  it  is  discovered. 

The  brush  and  powders,  which  are  the  common  means  had  re- 
course to,  will  never  more  than  half  perform  this  office,  as  they  act 
only  on  the  outer  parts,  and  thus  leave  the  interstices  entirely  un- 
touched. Some  tinctures  may  for  a time  give  a whiteness  to  the 
enamel,  but  they  are  certain  ultimately  to  injure  its  texture,  and  ren- 
der it  more  liable  to  decay.  In  short,  it  may  be  concluded,  that  in 
proportion  as  any  dentifrice,  paste,  or  lotion,  whitens  the  enamel,  its 
structure  is  injured  or  destroyed.  The  only  means  necessary  to  pre- 
serve its  color  is  to  remove  whatever  may  collect  around  the  teeth, 
and  thus  allow  them  to  possess  their  natural  whiteness  and  polish. — 
The  best  method  to  effect  this  is  with  a brush  and  water  ; should 
this  prove  insufficient,  powders  composed  of  Armenian  bole,  pre- 
pared chalk,  Peruvian  bark,  or  charcoal,  may  be  used  with  very 
great  advantage.  But,  even  when  the  teeth  have  been  thus  cleaned, 
the  insterstices  are  not  cleared.  This  may  be  effected  by  passing 
between  the  teeth  a thread  of  waxed  silk,  thereby  to  dislodge  what- 
ever may  have  collected  on  their  sides. 

The  means  which  have  been  pointed  out  for  the  prevention  of 
disease  will  be  found  of  much  greater  advantage  to  society  at  large 
than  all  that  has  been  said  respecting  the  treatment.  And  1 cannot 
too  strongly  urge  the  importance  of  this  particular  object. 


i 

■ 

■ '■ 


> • 


♦ 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 


The  republication  of  the  foregoing  Poem  and  Notes,  as  a part  of  se- 
veral successive  numbers  of  the  American  Journal  of  Dental  Science, 
for  the  years  1840-41,  was  sustained  by  the  following  catalogue  of  sub- 
scribers : — 


Ayers  Daniel,  Amsterdam,  Mont. 

County,  N.  Y.  1 

Allen  Richard  L.,  Sara.  Springs,  1 
Alcock  James,  N.  Y.  2 

Austin  George,  Baltimore,  1 

Austin  Nathan ’1,  Harrisonburg,  Ya.  2 
Ash  Claudius,  London,  2 

Azling  Isaac,  LI  D.,  Boston,  1 

Auten  F.  P.,  Lambertville,  N.  J.  1 

Atkinson  John,  Leeds,  Eng.  1 

Arthur  Robert,  Baltimore,  1 

Andrews  E.  H.,  Charlotte  C.  H.,  N. 

Carolina,  X 

Ash  G.  E.,  London,  1 

Arnold  Wm.,  M.  D.,  N.  York,  1 

Avery  Samuel,  N.  Orleans,  1 

Brewster,  C.  S.  Paris,  France,  1 

Burdell  John,  N.  Y.  20 

Bridges  M.  K.  Brooklyn,  20 

Baker  Elisha,  N.  Y.  20 

Brown  A.  W..  N.  Y.  20 

Bryan  Elijah,  N.Y,  1 

Blake  Elihu,  N.  Y.  1 

Bancroft  T.  L.,  Granville,  Ohio,  1 

Brown  B.  B.  St.  Louis,  Mo.  2 

Backus  G.  Nashville,  Tenn.  1 

Briscoe  A.  W.,  Baltimore,  1 

Barstow  Wm.  H.,  M.  D.,  George- 
town, Ky.  1 

Buchan  David  L.  Hempstead,  Md.  1 
Bidgood  Richd.  W,  Smith,  Va.  1 

Badger  Felix  H.  Decatur,  Ga.  1 

Brown  Solyman,  N.  Y.  5 

Becht  A.  J.  Hague,  Netherlands,  1 

Bareud  J . Dent , George-st.,  Man- 
chester, 1 

Barend  Sam’l.  Liverpool,  Eng.  1 

Bradford  D.  Augusta,  Ky.  1 

Bell  Thomas,  London,  1 

Ballanger  D.  W.  Montgomery,  Ala.  2 
Brockway  Josephus,  Troy,  2 

BiandingS.,  M.  D.,  Columbia,  S.  C.  1 
Baldwin  Janies  Oscar,  Newark,  N.  J.  1 
Brown  Chas.  D.,  Philadelphia,  1 

Burdell  Harvey,  M.  D.,  N.  York,  2 


Bliss  S.,  M.  D.,  Syracuse,  N.  York,  1 
Buck  J.  B.,  N.  York,  1 

Briscoe  Jas  H,  Philadelphia,  1 

Boyken  F M,  Smithfield  Va  1 

Burr  Hudson,  Philadelphia,  1 

Ballard  Geo.  W,  Madison,  Morgan 
Co,  Georgia,  1 

Bull  Abel,  M D,  Boston,  1 

Bemis  S A,  Boston,  N 1 

Budd  John  D,  Mount  Holly,  N J,  1 

Burr  Wm  H,  Mount  Holly,  N J,  1 

Cook  Doctor,  Brooklyn,  1 

Clute  Nicholas,  Louisville,  Ky.  2 

Chandler  James,  Schenec.  N.Y.  1 

Cobb  B.  C.,  M.  D.,  Clarkstore,  Mar- 
tins Co.,  N.  C.  1 

Cox  A.  L.,  M.  D.,  New  York,  1 

Cleveland,  J.  A.,  Charleston,  S.  C.  1 

Crocker  Fred’k,  Sagharbour,  L.  I.  1 

Clark,  F.  H.,  Baltimore,  1 

Comegys, Baltimore,  1 

Cutler  Wm.  Daily,  Baltimore,  1 

Cutler  Sam’i  Jackson,  Baltimore,  1 

Coleman,  R.  K.  Baltimore,  1 

Cauling  & Edmunds,  Baltimore,  1 

Cobb  Anson,  Brooklyn,  1 

Clark  C.,  Jacksonville,  III.  1 

Clark  James,  Springfield,  111.  1 

Cassill  J.  F.,  Upper  Marion,  Col.  Mo.  1 
Chewning  F.  B.,  Rich.  Va.  2 

Clark  James,  Lebanon,  O.  1 

Coppel  Chas.  Preston,  Eng.  1 

Crane  O.  P.  Geneva,  N.  Y.  1 

Chevalier,  J.  D.  N.  Y.  1 

Crofoot  E.,  E.  Middletown  Con.  1 

Crofoot  L L,  Middletown,  Conn,  1 

Candee  J G,  Troy,  N York,  1 

Clark  A,  Penyan,  NY,  1 

Cameron  James,  Philadelphia,  1 

Copeland  W S,  M D,  Rich  Square, 
Virginia,  1 

Carter  J H,  Ravena,  Portage  Co,  O,  1 
Caldwell  Geo  H,  Rushville,  la,  1 

Camp  W C,  Oxford,  Granville  Co, 

N Carolina,  X 


102 


SUBSCRIBERS  NAMES. 


Cuyler  Vernon,  M D,  Hartford,  Conn,  1 
Caldwell  D,  Philadelphia,  1 

Copelin  J,  New- York,  1 

Crane  W S,  Hartford,  Conn,  1 

Culp  Clark,  Philadelphia,  I 

Dexter,  Doctor,  Brooklyn,  1 

Dunning  H.  H.  Buffalo,  1 

Davis  W.  H.  H,  Cassville,  Oneida 
Co.,  New  York.  1 

Duncan  Archibald,  N.  Y,  1 

Davesson  Frederick  A.,  M,  D.  Hills- 
boro, Loudon  Co.  Va.  1 

Dunlap  Joseph,  Chilicothe,  O.  1 

Dunbar  J.  R.  H.,  M.  D.,  Balt.  1 

Desha  John  R.:  M.  D.,  Little  Rock, 
Arkansas,  1 

De  Loude  Le  Chas.  Wolverhampton, 
England,  1 

Dodge  J Smith,  New-York,  1 

Dewar  Henry,  Edinburgh,  Scot,  2 

Dodge  Andrew,  Matanzas,  Cuba,  1 

Dixon  Rufus  E,  M D,  Boston,  1 

Doolittle  A B,  Plymouth,  Conn,  1 

Esterly  D.,  M.  D.,  Troy,  N.  Y.  1 

Early , Doctor,  Lynchburg,  Va.  2 

Elmendorf  Joseph,  Pennyan,  N.  Y.  1 

Ellery  E.  Baltimore,  1 

Evans  J.  N.,  M.  D.,  Cynthiana,  Ky.  1 

Elliott  Joseph  D.,  Leicester,  Mass.  1 

Ensor — Dentist.,  Liverpool,  1 

Ellis  Calvin,  M D,  Boston,  1 

Evans  G W,  Cincinnatti,  1 

Epps  W J,  M D,  Langhorne’s  P O, 
Virginia,  I 

Evans  Thos  W,  Philadelphia,  1 

Easton  Win  T,  Providence,  R I,  1 

Fenn  Horatio  N.,  M.  D.,  Rochester,  2 

Foster  J.  H.,  M.  D.,  New-York,  2 

Flagg  Josiah  F M.,  M.  D.,  Boston,  1 

Frazer  Doctor,  Cynthiana,  Harrison 
Co,  Ky.  1 

Follen  John  H,  North.  C.  H.,  Va,  1 

Frink  J.  N.,  Portland,  N.  H.  1 

Foote  George,  Vernon,  N.  Y.  1 

Faulkner  &.  Pierpont,  Man.  England,  1 
Fundenberg  G.  B,  Dentist,  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.  1 

Franklin  B W,  Fairfield,  Herkimer 
Co,  New-York,  1 

Fraetas  J A,  New-York,  20 

Fay  Timothy,  Baton  Rouge,  La,  1 

Fay  Solomon,  Chester  Factories, 

Mass,  1 

Ferguson  Jas  II,  Northumberland  C 
House,  Va.  1 

Fouche  W.  W.  Philadelphia,  1 

Falconer  John,  New-  York,  X 


Gilliland,  Doctor,  Brooklyn,  1 

Gaines  Rich.  W.,  Charlotte  C.  H., 
Virginia,  1 

Garrison,  Doctor,  Brooklyn,  1 

Gallop  L.  F.,  Newport,  R.  I.  1 

Gardette  E.  B.,  Philadelphia,  2 

Green  L.T.,  Nashville,  Tenn.  1 

Goddard  W.  H.,  Louisville,  Ky.  1 
Gill  Bryson,  Baltimore,  1 

Gunnell  Jas.  S.,  M.  D.,  Washington,  1 
Griffith  S.  & E.,  Louisville,  Ky.  1 
Geer — Rev.  John  A.,  Maryland,  1 
Grand homme  M.  P.,  Paris,  France,  1 
Gidney  Eleazar,  Man.,  England,  1 
Greenwood  Isaac  J,  New-York,  40 
Grant  C W,  Newburg,  New-York,  1 
Greenleaf  Chas,  Hartford,  Conn,  1 
Ganson  Holton,  Batavia,  New-York,  1 
Gaines  B B,  Cassville,  Georgia,  1 
Githens  John  H,  Philadelphia,  1 

Gunn , Nashville,  Tennessee,  1 

Grimes  Doctor,  Greenborough,  Ga.  1 
Herd,  Doctor,  Brooklyn,  1 

Harris  Chapin  A.,  M.  D.,  Balt.  40 
Hawes,  Arnold,  Pawtucket,  R.  I.  1 
Hulihen  J.  P.,  Wheeling,  Va.  1 

Hawes  & Allen,  New-York,  1 

Houston  P.,  N.  Y.  and  Charleston,  l 
Hartness  Thos.  L.,  New-York,  1 

Hewlet  .1.  W.,  Greensbo,  N.  C.  1 
Holmes  Oliver,  Baltimore,  1 

Howard  F.,  Washington  City,  1 

Harris  John,  M.  D.  Georgetown,  Ky.  2 
Hall,  A.  S.,  M.  D.,  Scotland  Neck, 

N.  Carolina,  1 

Hubberd,  E.  R.,  Newbern,  N.  C.  1 
Harper  Sam’l,  Kent  Island,  Md.  1 
Hand  G.  C.,  Easton,  Pa.  1 

Humphreys  Geo.  W.  Winchester, 

Virginia,  1 

Hodgson  Doctor,  Whiteplains,  N.  Y.  1 
Harrison  R.  H.,  M.  D.,  Huntsville, 
Alabama,  1 

Helsby , Manchester,  England,  1 

Hudson  Kdvvard,  Philadelphia,  1 
Hamlin  T B,  Wythvelle,  Virginia,  1 
Hallified  Doctor,  Petersburg,  Va,  1 

Hought  Chas.  J,  Philadelphia,  1 

Hughes  H W,  Westminster,  Md,  1 
Hill  A,  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  1 

Hoit  Emmett  M,  Stanwich,  Conn,  1 

Halleyman  W F,  Maytinton,  SC,  1 
Imrie — Dentist,  Man.  England,  1 
Ingraham  Thomas,  Philadelphia,  1 
Johnson  Wm,,  Hagerston,  Md.  2 
JenksW.  D.,  Frederickstown,  Md.  2 
J’ollen  John  N.,  York  Co.  H.  Va.  1 


SUBSCRIBERS  NAMES. 


103 


King  Doctor,  Brooklyn,  1 

Kelley  Elbridge  G.,  Newburyport, 

Mass.  2 

Knower  Daniel,  N.  Y.  1 

Keen  Benjamin  F.,  Hills,  Ga.  1 

Knapp,  F.  H.  Baltimore,  1 

Kearsing  George,  New-York,  20 
Kingsbury  C A,  Philadelphia,  1 

Kimball  Horace,  New-York,  1 

Keemy  B M,  Hudson  New-York,  1 

Koecker  Leonard,  M D,  London,  2 

Keene,  Doct.  Newtown,  Scott  Co, 

Kentucky,  1 

Latham  Hiram,  Brooklyn,  1 

Lum  John,  Patterson,  N.  J.  1 

Levett  M.,  New^York,  I 

Lovejoy  John,  New  York  1 

Laroque  Edward.  Baltimore,  1 

Lapham  B.  B.,  Baltimore,  1 

Lawrence  J.,  M.  D.,  Tar  boro,  N.  C.  1 

Leadbetter  John,  Alexan.  D.  C.  1 

Lyon  S.  K.,  N.  Orleans,  4 

Lloyd  T.  B.,  Manchester,  Eng.  1 

Lloyd  Rich.,  Liv.  Eng.  1 

Laird  O.  P.,  Columbus,  Ga.  1 

Lamphire  Wm.,  Alexan.  D.  C.  1 

Lawrence  S W,  Philadelphia,  1 

Lee  Joseph,  M D,  Camden,  SC,  1 

Lawrence  E B,  Crawfordville,  Ga,  1 

Loomis  J C,  Carlisle,  Pa,  1 

Latimer  James,  Madison,  Morgan 

Co,  Georgia,  1 

Lethbridge  Sam’l,  Richmond,  Va,  1 

Marvin,  Doctor  Brooklyn,  1 

Miller  Seth  P.„  Worcester,  Mass.  1 

Maynard  E.  — M.  D.  Washington 

City  20 

Martin  Chas.  F.,  Norfork,  Va.  1 

M’Kinney  W.N„Fredricksburg,  Va.20 
Milhau  John,  New  York,  1 

Munson  W.  G.  New  Haven,  1 

Manly  Horace,  Canada.  N.  Y.  1 

Macall  Leonard,  M.  D.  Balt.  1 

Miller  J.  H.  Professor,  &c. Baltimore  1 

Merryman  Geo.  Baltimore,  1 

Manning  M.  E.,  Tarborough,  N.  C.  2 

M’Cabe  James  D.,  Richmond,  Va.  2 

McDonald  G.,  M.  D.  Macon,  Ga.  2 

Macey  Wm.  M.,  M.  D.  White  Sulphur 
Scott  C.  Ky.  1 

McAllister  J.  M.  Albany,  1 

McNaughton  M.  A.  Albany,  J 

Mason,  Doctor,  Brooklyn,  1 

Merritt  C.,  Bridgeport,  Con.  1 

Martin  J,  Portsmouth,  England,  1 

Mac  Pherson  James,  Glasgow,  Scot.  1 

Middleton  Ellis,  Philadelphia,  1 


Me  Ilhinney  Joseph  E,  Philadelphia,  1 
Matson  Alpheus,  Auburn,  New-York,  1 


MGrath  R,  Philadelphia,  1 

More  Justus  E,  Philadelphia,  1 

Middleton  Wm.  New-York,  1 

Merritt  Charles,  Bridgeport,  Conn,  1 
Murrill  L,  Petersburg,  Va,  1 

Nelson  Alexander,  Albany,  1 

Norman  S.  P.,  Little  Rock  Ark.  4 
Neal  D,  Philadelphia,  1 

Noyes  Enoch,  Baltimore,  20 

Nasmyth  Robert,  Edinburgh,  Scot.  1 
Overfield  M.  Winchester,  Va.  2 

Parker,  Doctor,  Brooklyn,  1 

Parmly  L.  S.,  N*  Orleans,  20 

Parmly  Jahial,  New- York,  20 

Parmly  Jahial,  Savannah,  1 

Parmly  Geo.  WT-,  N,  Orleans,  1 

Parmly  David,  New  York,  1 

Parmly  Eleazar,  New  York,  40 
Parmly  Ludolph,  Mobile,  1 

Parmly  YV.  Samuel,  New  York,  1 
Patello  Wm.  H.,Charlottee  C.  H.  Va.  1 
Park  David  N.,  A.  M.  New  York,  1 
Parkhurst  Wm.  H.,  New  York,  1 
Peak  J.  M.  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.  1 
Plant  Ebenezer,  Willimantic,  Conn,  fl 
Pritchard  P.  C.  Jackson,  N.  C.  1 
Plough  A,  L.,  New  Orleans,  1 

Parsons  J.  H.;  Liverpool,  England,  1 
Palmer  W.  A.,  Stratford,  Corm.  1 
Pleasants  Charles,  Painesville,  O.  1 
Perkins  Jacob,  Springfield,  Mass,  1 
Parker  T H,  Philadelphia,  1 

Pent  George,  M D,  Lawrenceville, 
Virginia,  i 

Pancost  S,  Shelbyville,  Kentucky,  1 
Royce  W.  A.  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  3 
Robinson  E.  C.  Norfolk,  Va.  1 

Roper  Lewis,  M.  D.  Philad.  20 

Rowell  Chas.,  N.  Y.  2 

Roe  Early,  M.  D.  Hillsborough,  Ga.  1 
Rodriguez  B.  A.  M.  D.  Charles, S.  C.  1 
Ritter — Washington  City,  1 

Robinson  E.  M.  D.  Leesburg,  Ky.  1 
Reynolds  Wm.,  M.  D.  Camden,  S*.  C.  1 
Reinstein  Frederick,  Philadelphia,  1 
Ross  Samuel,  New-York,  1 

Root  J B,  Hamilton,  Madison  Co, 
New-York,  i 

Reese  F.  A. M.D. Hamilton  Bermuda.  1 
Strickland  Benj.  Cleveland,  O.  1 
Snow  R.  J.,  Buffalo,  l 

Smith  & Thackston,  Farmville,  Va.  1 
Scott  W.  11.,  Raleigh,  N.  C.  4 

Shuff  P.  L.,  M.  D.,  Leesburg,  Ky.  1 
Sneeds  M.  D.,  Frankford  Ky.  1 


104 


SUBSCRIBERS  NAMES, 


Stringfellow  S.  L.  Baltimore,  20 

Stratton  Cha’s,  Keene,  N.  H.  1 

Sanders  M.,  London,  1 

Sanborn  E.,  Andover,  Mass.  1 

Smith  Wm.,  Liverpool,  Eng.  1 

Stinkley  B.  D.  Albany,  1 

Smith  G.  W.,  N.  Orleans,  1 

Stuart  R.,  Knoxville,  E.  T.  1 

Smith  J.  W.  Amherst,  Mass.  1 

Searle  F.,  Springfield , Mass.  1 

Stockton  S.  W,  Philadelphia,  20 

Stowell  John,  Philadelphia,  1 

Shepherd  S M,  Petersburg,  Va,  1 

Sherman  A,  Newark,  New-Jersey,  2 

Simpson , Manchester.  England,  1 

Sale  T A,  Williamsboro,  N C,  1 

Sims  J M,  M D,  Fish  Dam,  Union 
Dis,  S Carolina,  1 

Sanders  E,  16  Argyle  st,  London,  1 

Stevens  B H,  Elbndge,  Onondagua 
Co,  Nevv-York,  1 

Taylor,  Edward, M.  D.  Bainbridge,  0.2 
Tucker,  E.  G.,  M.  D.,  New.  York,  2 

Trenor  John,  M.  D.,  New  York.  1 

Trenor  James,  M.  D .,  N.  Y.  1 

Tdyard  H.  W.  Baltimore  1 

Taliaferro  T.  »S.,  M.  D.  Mays.  Ay.  1 
Thompson  — Doctor,  Colum.  O.  1 

Thorn,  Doctor,  Brooklyn  _ 1 

Tyler  Nathaniel,  Mass.  Chicapee 

Falls,  1 

Taylor  James,  Crawfordville,  /a.  1 


Teter  G.  T.,  Dentist,  Greenfield, 
.Highland  Co.  Ohio.  1 

Thorn  Doctor,  Edgefield  C H,  S C,  1 
Thackston  Doctor,  Farmville,  Ya,  1 

Townsend  Sam’l,  Baltimore,  1 

Truman,  George,  Philadelphia,  1 

Fan  PraagA.  S.,  New  York,  1 

Fincent  Ezra.,  New  York,  1 

Fan  Camp,  Louisville,  ify.  1 

Fan  Paten  C.  H.,  Pittsburg,  1 

Fanboskirk  L.  E.  Si  John,N.  B.  1 

IFillard  M,  T.  Concord,  N.  H.  1 

Weed  J.  Sachet,  W. Greenfield,  N.Y  1 
White  Geo.  H.,  New  York,  1 

Walker  & Jones,  New  York,  20 

Wanzer  iV.  C.,  Auburn,  New  York,  1 
Wayt  John  G-  Richmond,  Fa,  2 

Wilson  J D.,  Richmond,  Fa.  2 

Ware  W,  M.  D.,  Wilmington,  N.C.  1 
Wheat  J.  B.,  New  LTaven,  1 

White,  S D,  P hiladelphia,  1 

Worthington  R C,  M D.  Murrfrees- 
boro,  N C,  1 

Ward  David  G,  Wanesboro,  N C,  1 

Ward  W A,  Petersburg,  Va,  2 

Willmore  E,  Baltimore,  1 

Wheeler  E D,  Hillsboro,  Coffee  Co, 
Tennessee,  1 

Williams  E C,  M D,  Philadelphia,  1 

Wells  H,  Hartford,  Conn,  1 

Young  H.,  Troy,  New  York,  1 

Yard  George,  Philadelphia,  i 


